2024 Loose Leaf Program

2024 LOOSE LEAF COLLECTION

Residents can take advantage of all the available leaf collection and disposal options during the Fall Season: Curbside Collection, Operations Drop Off Days, Dufferin County Yard Waste Program, Mulching, Composting and Leaving the Leaves.

Curbside Collection

Curbside collection is provided only to residents in older neighbourhoods on streets with mature boulevard trees (trees on the road allowance – near the roadway). Residents are required to use Dufferin County’s Yard Waste Program for leaves from trees on private property in the front or back yards.

The 2024 collection period starts October 22 and ends November 15, 2024. Collection schedule will vary by Zone. Check your date before you rake! Be sure to have your loose leaves out for 7:00am of the date listed on your Zone.

Please do not rake the leaves to the curb after Sunday November 10, 2024. Final collection will be in progress that week. Any leaves not already at the curb during the final collection will be the resident’s responsibility to remove, bag for Dufferin County Yard Waste, or bring to a Drop Off Day. 

Schedule

October 22 – November 15, 2024

Zone 1

(North of Main Street, West of Owen Sound St.): Tuesdays – October 22, October 29, November 05, November 12, 2024

Zone 2

(North of Main Street, East of Owen Sound St.): Thursdays – October 24, October 31, November 07, November 14, 2024

Zone 3

(South of Main St.): Thursdays – October 24, October 31, November 07, November 14, 2024

All dates are weather dependent.

Guidelines

• Do not place, push or pile any leaves on the roadway or over catch basins. This is a safety hazard. Leaves should be placed on the boulevard a day or two before the start of your collection week. This will keep leaves from blowing around your neighbourhood.
• Please make sure leaves do not contain branches or other debris. Leaves mixed with other waste will not be collected.
• Please remove all obstructions, i.e., parked vehicles, sports equipment, basketball nets, etc., for easy access to your leaf piles.
• Leaves placed on the boulevard after the collection date will not be picked up if staff have already completed your street. Once a street has been collected, staff will not return until the next collection date.
• The same trucks that collect leaves are the same trucks that clear the snow throughout Town. If there is snow or freezing weather conditions the dates could be delayed and/or the program will end.
• Town staff will only collect the leaves that have fallen at the time of your scheduled collection dates. All other leaves will be the resident’s responsibility to remove, bag for Dufferin County Yard Waste, or bring to a Drop Off Day.

Operations Drop Off Days

Bring your loose leaves (bulk or bagged) to the Shelburne Transfer Yard at 601 Victoria Street between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM on the following dates for free disposal:

• Friday November 15, 2024
• Friday November 29, 2024

Bringing your loose leaves to the Drop Off Day events will ensure the leaves do not blow back onto your property and will keep the roadside clear. 

Dufferin County Bi-weekly Yard Waste Program

Dufferin County Yard Waste Program is carried out bi-weekly until the week of November 18, 2024. For a full schedule please see the Dufferin County Waste Guide , visit the Duffrin County Yard Waste, or download the DufferinWaste app.

Collection starts on Monday at 7:00 AM and continues throughout the week until the area is completed. Please note that your yard waste collection may not be the same day as your regular collection day. 

Mulching, Composting or Leaving Your Leaves

These are the most economical and environmentally beneficial methods to manage your loose leaves. It also relieves you from the frustration of finding time for yard work to match collection schedules, either due to tree leaves not dropping or missing the pickup window. Try mulching leaves with a lawn mower or other device to reduce the volume of the leaf pile for home storage or composting. Simply mowing your leaves, in a dry condition, on your lawn adds organic material directly to your lawn.

Collected leaves can be slowly added to your home compost. They break down into useful organic material that can be added to home gardening projects. Leaves, although bulky when first raked, will compost well over winter. Make sure the leaves are moist. It also helps to mix in some fruit and vegetable scraps. Learn more from the Composting Council of Canada.

Leaving the leaves on your property provides great shelter for pollinators (bees, butterflies, and moths) over the winter months. This will also provide a natural mulch to help suppress weeds and add nutrients to your soil.

Missed Curbside Collection?

For any remaining leaves or if you have missed the Town’s pick-up — leaves should be:

• brought to the Shelburne Transfer Yard on the Drop Off Days.
• bagged for Dufferin County’s Yard Waste bi-weekly pick-up.
• brought to Dufferin Transfer & Recycling located at 473051 Dufferin County Road 11, Orangeville, ON L9W 5L7.
• mulched, composted, or left in gardens, flower beds or in your yard.

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