Yard waste collection will begin soon in Winnipeg.

The City of Winnipeg says curbside yard waste collection will begin April 30th for those in the 'A' area, and May 7th for those living in 'B.' After those dates, yard waste will be picked up every two weeks, on the same collection day as recycling and garbage, and will continue until November.

According to the city's supervisor of waste diversion Mark Kinsley, collected yard waste gets dumped into windrows at the Brady Road Resource Management Facility.

"Over time, with turning equipment and front-end loaders and whatnot, they turn the windrows, add moisture, and it composts," says Kinsley.

Kinsley also says, like with recycling, it's important to know what's accepted.

"It's very important, only put in the acceptable yard waste materials... in the acceptable container," he says.

Paper yard waste bags and cardboard boxes are acceptable containers for yard waste; plastic bags are not. Reusable containers which homeowners keep are also acceptable. Fruits and vegetables are not accepted in the City of Winnipeg's yard waste collection program. Kinsley says fruits and veggies break down differently than yard waste.

In a release sent out today, the city says acceptable yard waste includes: an unlimited amount of outside organic materials, such as grass clippings, leaves, flowers, bush/shrub clippings, and small tied bundles of branches no longer than one metre nor heavier than 22 kilograms. Logs, stumps, rocks, dirt, sod, and litter are not accepted, and slow down the composting process and can potentially damage equipment.

Other than curbside pick-up, residents can drop off their yard waste to any 4R Winnipeg Depot for free.

According to the city, last year, nearly 22,000 tonnes of yard waste was collected through the curbside pick-up program and composted at the Brady Road Resource Management Facility. The city uses the composted material for flower beds and to landscape finished landfill areas. The city's also exporing other uses.

Kinsley says the city's getting closer to being able to sell the compost; he says that's the end goal and they did actually sell some at the end of last year. Kinsley also says the city wants to develop a system to give the composted material back.

"We appreciate people participating in the program. It's making a difference in reduced landfill volumes."

Residents are reminded to keep yard waste containers at least an arm's length away from recycling and garbage carts. Do not rake yard waste onto the street, as the city says it can plug drains and cause ponding problems, as well as increase the risk of basement flooding.