Fall yard waste collection begins next week

An aerial photo of downtown Edmonton and the North Saskatchewan River valley taken over the Cloverdale neighbourhood on Oct. 8, 2024. (Cam Wiebe / CTV News Edmonton)

City of Edmonton waste collection trucks will be making the rounds picking up fall yard waste starting next week.

Households with curbside collection are assigned two yard waste collections days from Sept. 29 to Nov. 24. Specific collection days can be found on the WasteWise app or online.

Residents are asked to put yard waste in see-through plastic or double-ply paper bags on their designated yard waste collection days.

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The city recommends keeping yard waste bags light enough to lift with one arm. There is no limit to how many bags can be set out per household.

Yard waste can also be dropped off at Eco Stations and the Edmonton Waste Management Centre free of charge but must be bagged. Plastic bags are to be emptied on-site.

Since Dutch Elm Disease was found in Edmonton last year, elm wood can no longer be mixed with yard waste or placed in compost or garbage carts.

The city said that if elm wood is stored outside or left in the cart until collection day, there is a risk that beetles carrying the fungus could spread the disease to nearby trees.

Those with elms on their property are reminded that the annual elm pruning ban remains in effect until Oct. 1.

It is acceptable to prune elm trees from the beginning of October to March 31. Elm wood is to be disposed of immediately by either burning or taking it to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre for free disposal.

Elm wood is not accepted at Eco Stations. Yard waste taken to Eco Stations is processed into compost. Introducing elm wood could contaminate the compost and potentially spread the disease.