Get details about green waste collections
Collection schedules, accepted materials, materials that are not accepted and types of bins that are allowed. Find out how to put out green waste according to standards.
Green waste is organic waste: grass clippings, dead leaves, spring yard cleaning and gardening waste, etc.
Green waste is only collected for part of the year. Generally, this is in the spring and fall. Dates vary depending on the borough. Visit Info-Collectes.
The green waste collection produces compost, which is distributed to residents once or twice a year depending on the borough. Visit Info-Collectes.
My borough
No borough selected.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Chips, twigs
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Gardening waste
- Grass clippings
- Sawdust
- Straws
- Wastes from cleaning, weeding and cultivating your land
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Open cardboard boxes with a maximum length of 1.5 m
- Compostable paper bags
- Reusable rigid containers, equipped with handles and the lid removed, of maximum 150 litres and maximum 25 kg
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Rules to be respected
Put the containers away before 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
Acceptable materials
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Gardening waste
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
- Land cultivation waste
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Reusable rigid containers: garbage cans, etc.
- Compostable paper bags
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Grass clippings
- Gardening waste
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Reusable rigid containers: garbage cans, etc.
- Compostable paper bags
- See-through plastic bags
Collection schedules
Buildings with eight dwellings or fewer
The green waste and dead leaves collection is included in the organic waste collection.
Buildings with nine dwellings or more
The green waste collection is offered from April to November. To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Chips, twigs
- Dead leaves
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
- Land cultivation waste
- Sawdust
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Pumpkins (please put them out with organic waste)
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- Compostable paper bags
- Reusable rigid containers: garbages cans, etc.
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight, or placed in accepted containers
- Dead leaves
- Gardening waste
- Grass clippings
- Land cultivation waste
- Waste from vegetable garden
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- Reusable rigid containers: garbage cans, etc.
- Compostable paper bags
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
The collection period lasts for six weeks in the spring and six weeks in the fall. Dates vary depending on weather conditions. To get the collection schedule, see Info-Collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight or placed in accepted containers
- Dead leaves
- Gardening waste
- Grass clippings
- Land cultivation waste
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
- Conifers (evergreens) trunks
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- Reusable rigid containers: garbage cans, etc.
- Compostable paper bags
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
- Land cultivation waste
- Twigs
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- Reusable rigid containers: garbage cans, etc.
- Compostable paper bags
Collection schedules
Buildings with eight dwellings or fewer
The green waste and dead leaves collection is included in the organic waste collection.
Buildings with nine dwellings or more
The green waste collection is offered for these buildings. To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
For branches that cannot be put out during regular branch collections, a paid collection (content in French) is available.
Acceptable materials
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, not fastened.
- Chips, twigs
- Dead leaves
- Grass clippings
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
- Waste from seedbed preparation, planting, cultivating, weeding and hoeing
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Compostable paper bags
- Reusable rigid containers: garbage cans, etc.
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Gardening waste
- Grass clippings
- Waste from seedbed preparation, planting, cultivating, weeding and hoeing
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- Reusable rigid containers: garbage cans, etc. of maximum 150 litres
- Compostable paper bags
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Chips, twigs
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Gardening waste
- Grass clippings
- Land cultivation waste
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- Compostable paper bags
- See-through or orange plastic bags
- Reusable rigid containers, without a cover: garbage cans, etc.
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Chips, twigs
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Gardening waste
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
- Waste from seedbed preparation, planting, cultivating, weeding and hoeing
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- Compostable paper bags
- Plastic bags of maximum 150 litres
- Reusable rigid containers, equipped with handles and without a cover, of maximum 150 litres
Collection schedules
Buildings with eight dwellings or fewer
The green waste and dead leaves collection is included in the organic waste collection.
Buildings with nine dwellings or more
The green waste collection is offered. To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Chips, twigs
- Dead leaves
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Reusable rigid containers: garbage cans, etc.
- Compostable paper bags
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Chips, twigs
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Gardening waste
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
- Land cultivation waste
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Sod
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Rigid reusable containers: garbage cans, etc., except the borough’s bins (recycling bin and brown bin)
- Compostable paper bags
- See-through plastic bags: they are not recommended, but they will still be picked up during collections
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Compost distribution
Part of the compost produced through the green waste collection is distributed free of charge to residents once a year in the springtime. See the montreal.ca news section to learn more.
Acceptable materials
- Chips, twigs
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Gardening waste
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
- Waste from seedbed preparation, planting, weeding ans hoeing
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- Reusable rigid containers, equipped with handles and without a cover, similar in capacity to garbage cans used for household garbage
- Compostable paper bags
- See-through plastic bags
Schedule collection
Buildings with eight dwellings or fewer
The green waste and dead leaves collection is included in the organic waste collection.
Buildings with nine dwellings or more
The green waste collection is offered. To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Chips, twigs
- Dead leaves
- Grass clippings
- Land cultivation waste
- Horticultural waste
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Compostable paper bags
- Reusable rigid containers, equipped with handles and a cover: garbage cans, etc.
- Containers must be closed and identified “green waste”
Biodegradable paper bags are distributed free of charge:
- At the Accès Montréal office
- At the Éco-quartier de Saint-Laurent
There is a limit of 10 bags per building, per year.
To get the bags, you must show proof of residence.
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Chips, twigs
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Houseplants (no soil)
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
- Waste from seedbed preparation, planting, cultivating, weeding and hoeing
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- Reusable rigid containers, equipped with handles: garbages cans, etc.
- Compostable paper bags
- See-through plastic bags: they are not recommended, but they will still be picked up during collections
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Chips, twigs
- Conifers (evergreens) and deciduous tree branches of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Gardening waste
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
- Land cultivation waste
- Waste from vegetable gardens
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- Compostable paper bags
- Reusable rigid plastic containers, equipped with handles: garbage cans, etc.
- Containers must be identified “green waste”
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Chips, twigs
- Conifers (evergreens), deciduous tree and cedar hedge branches of maximum 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long, 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
- Land cultivation waste
- Pumpkins cut into pieces and placed in bags of dead leaves
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Pumpkins (please put them out with food waste)
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Compostable paper bags
- See-through plastic bags
- Compostable Biosak or Biobag bags
Collection schedules
To find out when to put out your green waste for pickup, visit Info-collectes.
Outside of these collection periods, there are four possibilities available to you:
- Bring your garden debris (including branches with a diameter greater than 5 cm) to the ecocentre nearest you to be composted.
- Put your garden debris in your garden composter if you have one.
- Keep your garden debris on your property until the next collection period.
- As a last resort, put green waste in your household waste. In this case, they will be treated as household waste and will not be composted.
Acceptable materials
- Chips, twigs
- Conifers (evergreens), deciduous tree and cedar hedge branches of maximum 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, fastened with fiber rope in bundles of maximum 1 m (3.3 ft) long, 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 25 kg in weight
- Dead leaves
- Grass clippings
- Horticultural waste
- Land cultivation waste
- Vines
- Waste from vegetable gardens and fruit trees
Unacceptable materials
- Food waste
- Pet litter and bedding
- Soil and rocks
- Stump, trunk
- Tree branches more than 1 m long and 5 cm in diameter
Acceptable containers
- Cardboard boxes
- See-through plastic bags
- Compostable paper bags
- Reusable rigid containers: garbage cans, etc.
Select a borough
Boroughs
Are you sure you want to leave this page?
This page is not available in English. You will be redirected to the English home page.