Coquitlam to offer free fall yard waste pickup from Oct. 19 to Nov. 26

Coquitlam will provide free curbside pickup of extra yard trimmings from Oct. 19 to Nov. 26 for residents who receive City waste collection. Residents can set out leaves, grass clippings and pruned branches from yard cleanups on their regular collection day. Last year, about 400 tonnes of yard waste were collected. The program helps keep yards tidy, turns yard waste into usable compost and helps prevent leaves from clogging storm drains, catch basins and creeks.

Extra trimmings may be placed in old garbage cans labelled with a Yard Trimmings Sticker, paper bags or bundles tied with twine. Free stickers are available on the main floor of City Hall at the Engineering Customer Service counter, and at the City Centre and Poirier public libraries.

Do not set out yard waste before the first collection day during the week of Oct. 19; wet bags and containers are difficult to collect. Put extra trimmings at the curb by 7:30 a.m. on collection day. A separate truck collects them, so pickup may take place at a different time from Green Cart collection. Bundles, cans and paper bags may be set out early, but City-issued Green Carts must not be set out until after 5:30 a.m. on collection day, even if they contain only yard trimmings. Fines may apply.

Branches must be tied in bundles no longer than 1 metre (3 feet) and less than 7.5 centimetres (3 inches) in diameter. Each bag, can or bundle must weigh less than 20 kilograms (44 pounds). Sod, rocks, soil and plastic bags are not accepted. Food scraps must go only in a regular Green Cart, not in paper bags or other containers for extra trimmings. Place materials at the curb without blocking the sidewalk or street. If rain is expected, cover paper bags with a tarp to keep them from getting soggy and wait until the morning of collection to put them out. Full details are at coquitlam.ca/YardTrimmings.

Coquitlam residents can also drop off green waste year-round at no charge at the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre, 995 United Boulevard. Accepted items include grass clippings, leaves, plants, plant cuttings, tree and hedge prunings, tree branches and food waste. Proof of residency is required, and annual limits apply. More information is at coquitlam.ca/YardTrimmings.

Residents can visit coquitlam.ca/ReCollect to set up email or phone reminders about their waste collection schedule, including statutory holiday changes, weather-related disruptions and seasonal yard trimmings collection. A free smartphone app is also available; search for “Coquitlam Curbside Collection” in an app store.

The City says the name Coquitlam comes from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, meaning “Red Fish Up the River.” It acknowledges that it is located on the traditional and ancestral lands of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, including areas historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ and other Coast Salish Peoples.