We collect brush and leaves separately. Your area will have a designated brush collection week and a designated leaf collection week. Check the collection calendar to confirm your brush and leaf collection schedule. Place the proper items at the curb by 8 a.m. on Monday of your collection week. If you do not put out the correct material on the proper collection week, we will not pick it up.
Household Waste Collection
Garbage bag tags will cost $4 as of Jan. 1, 2025. Any bag tags that residents purchased for $2 will be honoured curbside.
We offer curbside pickup for recycling, organics, and garbage. Remember to check our waste collection calendar to confirm your collection schedule.
We offer a printable waste management guide to help you sort recycling, green bin, and garbage items correctly. If you are not sure where an specific item goes, use our Waste Sorting tool to help.
Household hazardous waste
Never dispose of hazardous waste in the garbage! It must be dropped off at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC) at 196 Lappan’s Lane.
Hazardous waste drop off is only open April to November on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Yard waste
Yard waste is not garbage. We offer free yard waste drop-off year round at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC) and free brush and leaf curb-side pick-up in the fall.
If you are business using the yard waste drop off at KARC, there may be fees. Please visit the scales before continuing to the drop-off area.
2024 Brush and leaf collection schedule
Your brush or leaves must be on the curb by 8 a.m. on the Monday of your week, as they may be picked-up any time during the week. Sometimes you’ll see us collecting ahead of schedule. Don’t worry, we’ll be back on your week!
Check the map to locate your collection zone and pickup schedule. You can also set reminders using our collection calendar.
Please note: Brush will not be picked up on a leaf collection week, and leaves will not be collected on a brush collection week.
Fall brush and leaf collection
Materials from trimming small trees and bushes. This does not include stumps, logs, or root balls.
Set your brush with the cut end facing the curb. Pieces must be smaller than 90 cm (3 feet) in length or 15 cm (6 inches) in diameter. Do not bundle brush.
Leaves from trees, small sticks, and garden waste. This does not include soil, sod, or root balls.
Make sure to collect your leaves in an acceptable bag or container. Only use brown (kraft) paper bags or rigid-sided containers with handles, like garbage cans. Plastic bags, even compostable ones, are not acceptable. All bags / containers must weigh less than 44lbs (20kg).
Do not just rake your leaves to the curb, we will not collect them!
Tree limbs, logs, root balls, Christmas trees, and sod
Tree limbs, logs, root balls, Christmas trees, and sod must be dropped off at the KARC at 196 Lappan’s Lane.
- Monday to Friday 8 a.m to 5 p.m
- Saturday 8 a.m to 4 p.m
We will accept tree limbs, logs, and root balls up to 40 cm (15 inches) in diameter and 90 cm (3 feet) in length.
To drop off sod, please shake off excess dirt and ensure it is dry.
Invasive species, like Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip, cannot be put in green bins or accepted as yard waste. Learn how to recognize and dispose of invasive species.
Eco-friendly yard waste suggestions
- Feed yard waste to your garden
- Grass-cycling: Cut grass when dry and leave clippings on the lawn (keep it about three inches long)
- Use leaves as mulch in your garden
- Think about backyard composting – get a backyard composter at the KARC for $54.00
Your waste was not picked up?
If your waste was not picked up, check out the possible reasons why your waste was left behind.
Reasons why your waste may have been left behind.
- Did you put your waste out on the correct day? Use the Waste Collection Calendar for your address.
- Did you put your waste out before 6 a.m.? Collection starts at this time.
- Did you put your waste curbside? Avoid placing it on porches or directly in front of the house.
- Did you use the correct recycling box? Grey and blue boxes are collected alternately.
- Were any tags placed on uncollected waste? They may indicate reasons like overweight garbage.
- Did you use the correct box size? Boxes taller than 16 inches, laundry boxes, or cardboard boxes cannot be collected due to safety regulations.
- Was food waste visible at the top of the bin? Green bins won't be collected if non-compostable materials are inside. Yard waste can be disposed of separately, but food waste must be visibly placed at the top of the bin for collection.
- Avoid placing blue box recycling in bags within the box, as it won't be collected.
Contact Us
City of Kingston
City Hall
216 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L 2Z3
Canada
contactus@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-0000
Fax: 613-546-7816
The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.
Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.
