The yard waste collected from your curb might start as leaves and branches, but it is eventually turned into compost.
All the yard waste collected throughout Winnipeg and at the 4R Depots ends up at the Brady Road Resource Management Facility. It is piled into long rows, known as windrows, to be composted.
“There is a process everything goes through,” said Mark Kinsley, Waste Diversion Supervisor
Wood chips are added and then the material is put through a series of temperature and moisture content tests. It’s then sprayed with water to help the composting process. A large machine then regularly drives over the windrows to turn the compost.
It takes between eight to 12 weeks for the compost to cure.
When the compost is ready, it is used on-site at the Brady Road Resource Management Facility for landscaping and in other parts of the city, like in parks. We also give away compost at our annual compost giveaway in May.
“We are also able to sell it to soil manufacturers where they will combine it and use it as an enrichment additive,” said Kinsley.
We introduced curbside yard waste collection in 2012. Kinsley said Winnipeggers have embraced the service.
“We appreciate everyone’s participation in the program,” he said.
In 2023, 36,880 tonnes of yard waste was diverted from the landfill. Of that, 21,820 tonnes were picked up at the curb and 2,533 tonnes were dropped off at the 4R Winnipeg Depots. The remaining 12,527 tonnes were dropped off at the Brady Road Resource Management Facility.
While we collect yard waste from April to November, you can bring it to any 4R Winnipeg Depot at any time of year.
Take a look at the City of Winnipeg video What happens after all the yard waste is collected?
