The 2024 Leaf Collection Program begins October 28
We’re gearing up for the 2024 leaf program and will be continuing to focus on improving our scheduling process and public communication. The 1st Pass Leaf Collection schedule is available now on the Collection Schedules page.
You may see our Leaf trucks and crews out training in the weeks leading up to October 28, but please follow the schedule to know when to have your piles ready during the official Leaf Collection Program, expected to run from Oct 28 into early January. The 2nd Pass Leaf Collection Schedule will be posted and available by November 30.
Here are some options available to beneficially-recycle your leaves, year round:
- Mulch your leaves - there are many benefits to mulching your leaves and layering in your garden beds or compost.
- Place your leaves into your organics cart – depending on the size of your cart, you could dispose of your leaves in one or two collection cycles.
- Bring your leaves to our yard and garden waste drop off – if you have larger piles that won’t fit into your organics cart and have the means to transport them, bring them in!
Have questions about the leaf program? Check out our new FAQs!
Guidelines
- Leaf collection only.
- Have leaves ready for the first day of your collection week.
- Leaves must be in rows or piles no more than 1 metre away from the road.
- No limit to number of piles or rows.
- Leaves to be clear of catch basins, sidewalks, bike lanes and roadways.
- Leaves must not be placed in ditches.
- Collectors require unobstructed access to leaves.
We don’t accept
We're not able to accept a number of items in our leaf collection program as it contaminates our final product. The mulched leaves are used in our parks, allotment gardens and for Garry Oak restoration.
Please put the following in your organics recycling cart:
- Tree needles
- Acorns
- Chestnuts
- Pinecones
- Grass clippings
- Prunings
- Garden waste
You can bring large-volume loads to the Saanich Public Works Yard at 1040 McKenzie Ave.
Where your leaves go
We collect and mulch about 2,500 tonnes of leaves for reuse in our parks, allotment gardens and Garry Oak restoration projects.
When available, any remaining leaf mulch is dropped off free of charge for residential use on a first-come, first-served basis at three Saanich parks:
