Yard and garden material isn't garbage. It is an important natural resource than can be easily composted to benefit our environment and contribute to sustainability in our region.
In 2006 a yard and garden material landfill restriction came into effect. A number of locations in the region, including the Hartland Depot accept source separated yard and garden material for composting and reuse. You can also compost it in your backyard compost bin or hire a collection service to pick it up.
Items not included in the restriction:
- invasive species
- morning glory, blackberry, wild mustard, ox-eye daisy, wild carrot, couch grass and poison hemlock
- plants or growing media identified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for disposal
How to prepare invasive species for landfill disposal
Invasive species should not be composted in your backyard composter and should be disposed of in the garbage. Invasive plant seeds can spread when material is transported for disposal. We recommend you place invasive plants in clear plastic bags clearly marked ‘INVASIVE SPECIES’ so your service provider can identify them as garbage, not yard and garden material. Please contact your local waste service provider for further information on collection and disposal options.
In addition to bagging and tagging, if you are transporting your invasive plant materials to a facility for disposal please make sure your load is covered and secure. Read more >>
Yard Waste Services
Consult our myrecyclopedia listing under Yard & Garden Waste for a list of companies that offer drop-off and pick-up services.
Or consult the Yellow Pages listings under:
Municipal Yard Waste Depots
Please contact municipalities directly regarding hours of operation, restrictions and charges.
Colwood Residents
Colwood Public Works Yard
3300 Wishart Road
250.474.4133
Esquimalt Residents
Esquimalt/View Royal Yard & Garden Waste Transfer Station
605 Canteen Road
250.883.8683
North Saanich Residents
North Saanich Public Works Yard
10180 Littlewood Road
250.656.0781
Oak Bay Residents
Oak Bay Public Works Yard
1771 Elgin Road
250.598.4501
Saanich Residents
Saanich Public Works Yard
1040 McKenzie Avenue
250.475.5599
Victoria Residents
Victoria Public Works Yard
417 Garbally Road
250.361.0400
View Royal Residents
Esquimalt/View Royal Yard & Garden Waste Transfer Station
605 Canteen Road
250.883.8683
Municipal Leaf & Branch Pick-up
Contact your municipality to find out about pick-up services offered:
- Esquimalt 250.414.7108
- Oak Bay 250.598.4501
- Saanich 250.475.5599
- Sidney 250.656.1034
- Victoria 250.361.0600
- View Royal 250.479.6800
Kitchen Scraps Recycling
- Consult our myrecyclopedia listing under Kitchen Scraps for a list of companies that offer drop-off and pick-up services.
Yard & Garden Bylaw Definition
“Yard and Garden Waste” means organic materials, substances or objects including, but not necessarily limited to, grass, lawn and hedge clippings, grass sod, flowers, weeds, leaves, vegetable stalks, shrubs, and shrub and tree branches less than 75 mm (3 inches) in diameter, but does not include:
(a) invasive species plants set out in the Schedule to the Spheres of Concurrent Jurisdiction – Environment and Wildlife Regulation, B.C. Reg. 144/2004;
(b) morning glory, blackberry, wild mustard, ox-eye daisy, wild carrot, couch grass and poison hemlock;
(c) plants or growing media that may have been identified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from time to time as infectious or potentially infectious and of which notice has been sent to the Capital Regional District or publicized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency; or
(d) plant or tree material in municipal street sweepings.
© Image courtesy of Elf Sternberg