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Yard Waste

There are a number of solutions for dealing with your grass clippings, leaves, tree branches and trimming, including: Grasscycling, Backyard composting and Community Composting programs.

Parkland County encourages its residents to reduce their waste through grasscycling and backyard composting, for residents choosing not to reduce their yard waste; charges may apply for the disposal of this waste at a Parkland County waste disposal facility.

If grasscycling and backyard composting is not a practical solution for you, yard waste can be disposed at one of the following Parkland County waste disposal facilities; however, charges may apply.

Click here for Parkland County fees and charges.

Maximum load size at Kapasiwin, Keephills, Tomahawk, Moon Lake & Seba Beach Transfer Stations is up to a 3/4 Ton Pickup. Larger loads can be accepted at Parkland County Transfer Station only.

NOTE: Commercial vehicles and trailers will be charged the going rate for disposal of yard waste. Due to space constraints, scale operators may limit the amount of tree trimmings accepted at the transfer station. For larger loads and more information, contact Solid Waste Services at 780-968-8448.

Grasscycling

About 20 per cent of the waste entering landfills comes from yards. Instead of throwing out grass clippings, why not recycle them by leaving the cuttings on the lawn? This is called grasscycling.

Why grasscycle?

  • It keeps your lawn and garden healthy and reduces the amount of yard waste entering landfills.
  • It eliminates bagging and raking clippings.
  • It acts as a slow release fertilizer.
  • It prevents moisture from evaporating from the soil.

How do I grasscycle properly?

  • Sharpen your lawn mower blades to prevent lawn damage.
  • Mow the lawn every four to five days during peak growth periods of spring and summer.
  • Maintain a grass height of five to 7.5 centimetres (two to three inches) to help insulate the lawn against heat.
  • Mow the lawn when it's dry, and cut no more than 2.5 cm (one inch) in height per mowing.
  • Consider a mulching mower when you upgrade your equipment.

Backyard Composting

There are a number of ways to reduce your impact on the environment. Composting and recycling bio-degradable materials is great for the environment, your family, and the community.

What is Composting?

Composting is the recycling of household indoor and outdoor organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings and vegetable scraps. All organic material naturally turns back into a nutrient rich soil when composted properly and can used in your yard to improve the texture and fertility of the soil. This is an extremely beneficial process as it reduces the amount of waste that enters the landfills. Organics that are sent to the landfills do not break down in a natural fashion, but instead compound and generate poisonous greenhouse gasses like methane into the air.

What to Compost

  • Fruit and vegetable scraps, over-ripe fruits and vegetables
  • Rice, pasta, stale bread
  • Coffee grounds and filters, tea bags
  • Paper napkins and towels
  • Dryer lint, hair
  • Yard organics such as plant trimmings, grass clippings, leaves

What Not to Compost

  • Meat, fish or bones
  • Dairy products
  • Oils, fats or grease
  • Sauces
  • Ashes
  • Plastic or other non-biodegradable products
  • Pet waste
  • Wood (unless its untreated and shredded)

The Composting Process

Composting is the natural process of microorganisms feeding on the moist materials in the compost heap. This feeding frenzy heats up the heap and encourages bacteria, fungi and insects to feed on the organics. All of this feeding causes the materials to decompose. It is important to stir or turn the pile occasionally to add oxygen and to discourage harmful bacterial and foul smells. When all the materials has been decomposed, the temperature of the pile will drop and the worms will move in - signaling to you that your compost is ready to use.

A compost pile will work best if you layer brown and green organics. Browns are usually dry, and include: dry grass clippings, leaves and coffee filters. Greens are fresh and moist, they include: vegetable peelings and fresh grass clippings. It is also important to keep the pile slightly damp or moist.

For more detailed information on backyard composting see the following two documents:

Community Composting

Parkland County Transfer Station:
Rge Rd 11 & Hwy 16A
Leave & Grass Collection Bin
No charge for Parkland County Residents

 

Town of Stony Plain Rotary Recycle Centre:
4505 50 Avenue, Stony Plain
Leaves & Grass Collection Bin

City of Spruce Grove Eco Centre:
50 Diamond Avenue, Spruce Grove
$1/bag Leaves & Grass
For more information call City of Spruce Grove Public Works  780-962-7580