YARD WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM
Medicine Hat residents have the option of subscribing for seasonal yard waste collection using a convenient 95-gallon (360-litre) Automated Yard Waste Cart that is specifically designed and vented for yard waste material.
Dates of Seasonal Collection
Yard waste will be collected starting the Monday of the third full week in April and will end each fall on the Friday of the second full week in November. Please note that the start and end dates may change as weather conditions warrant.
TO SUBSCRIBE FOR AUTOMATED YARD WASTE SERVICE:
Residents must sign on for yard waste collection service at Customer Service, in City Hall. All applications are subject to an administration fee of $50.00 at the time of sign on.
Automated Yard Waste Collection Video
Participating in the program is easy: here's what you need to know:
- The green yard waste cart is ONLY for yard waste. Contaminated carts WILL NOT be collected!
- DO NOT USE plastic bags. Place yard waste loosely into the yard waste cart. All waste must fit into the carts provided and the lids must close completely; no material placed on top or outside of the carts will be collected.
- Roll your yard waste cart out to the proper set out location by 7 am on your designated collection day. Place your yard waste cart next to your waste cart, leaving a minimum of 3 feet (1m) distance between them and 3 feet (1m) clearance around the carts.
- Solid Waste Bylaw #1805 requires carts be returned to private property within 24 hours of collection.
- Acceptable yard waste material includes grass clippings, leaves, prunings, plant trimmings and cut flowers. Twigs, branches and limbs up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and 3 feet (1m) in length will be accepted inside the cart.
YARD WASTE DROP-OFF
Medicine Hat residents and lawn care companies can also bring their grass clippings to the City’s composting facility year round. The composting facility located at the Landfill site and there is no tipping fee for clean, loose yard waste material. Residents are encouraged to self-manage yard waste on their own property by using alternative methods such as grasscycling or backyard composting.
MANAGING YARD WASTE ON-SITE
Effective yard waste management reduces waste and recycles organic materials. Although yard waste is biodegradable, landfills do not get the oxygen and water needed for breakdown. Landfills are constructed to prevent movement of air and moisture in order to protect the surrounding environment. These materials can be better put to use enhancing our gardens and landscapes.
A good rule is to practice the three Rs: reduce yard waste generation, reuse trimmings and prunings on site, and recycle organic products (compost and mulch) back into the landscape. By following the suggestions below, you can cut the waste generated through your landscaping practices and save time and money.
Tips for working half as hard in the yard:
- Grasscycling – Mow without a bag and leave grass clippings on the lawn, saving time, energy and valuable landfill space. Plus, your lawn will love the nutrients! Grasscycling is a combination of common-sense watering, mowing and fertilizing practices. The frequency of watering and mowing will depend on the type of grass in your yard. Remove no more than one-third of the grass blade surface at any time. To learn more click here
- Mulching – Mulch is any organic material such as wood chips, grass clippings, leaves and compost, that is spread over the surface of the soil, locking in moisture and reducing soil temperatures and plants’ need for water while restricting weeds by blocking sunlight, and serving as a blanket for plants in winter by helping maintain constant soil temperature. Mulching is one of the cheapest water conservation techniques, for additional information see More on Mulching.
- Composting provides an almost constant source of free fertilizer and soil conditioner. Benefits include improving the structure of the soil, maintaining healthy plant growth, helping conserve water and removing organics from garbage and putting them to good use in the environment. The Compost Guide contains more detailed information to get started.
- Leaf Management - During the fall and early winter, when lawns stop growing and the leaf rake replaces the lawnmower, tree leaves become a major component of lawn wastes. Mowing, mulching and composting are several ideas for keeping these wonderfully beneficial by-products of our beautiful Medicine Hat landscapes out of the curbside collection system.
The following publications are available for download.
These publications are provided courtesy of
Paul van der Werf, M.Sc. President, 2cg Inc. Waste Management Consulting Services |
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