Yard Cleanup in Burnaby: Scope, Hauling and Costs

Define the cleanup before comparing quotes

Send photographs of the lawn, beds, debris piles and access route. Mark plants you want to keep and identify the areas you want cleared. Describe whether you want leaves collected, weeds removed, spent plants cut back, loose branches gathered or existing piles loaded. Ask the contractor to list mowing, pruning and plant removal as separate tasks if you want them included.

Agree on where the crew will leave material if you decline hauling. Specify whether the contractor will fill your green bin, stage a pile for your own transport or remove everything included in the scope. Ask the crew to sweep paths and remove scraps from the loading area before it leaves.

For access, send the gate width and photographs of stairs or narrow passages. Identify a place for the vehicle and explain any shared driveway arrangements. For a strata property, confirm permission to use shared outdoor areas and bins before booking.

Choose between your green bin and hauling

Burnaby collects food scraps and yard waste weekly from houses, duplexes and multi-family properties. The City accepts grass clippings, weeds, plants, flowers and small branches up to 4 inches in diameter. It excludes dirt, rocks, soil, sod and tree stumps. Keep excluded materials separate and leave enough space to close the bin lid for collection. [1]

If you plan to transport excess green waste yourself, the Eco-Centre accepts leaves, grass clippings, plants, flowers and branches within its diameter limit. The City instructs visitors to bring green waste without bags or bundles. Ask a cleanup crew to prepare your pile for that destination rather than package it in a way you will need to undo. [2]

For contractor hauling, ask for the destination, accepted materials and fee basis in writing. Do not assume the contractor can claim your resident free allowance. Ask how the crew will handle mixed piles containing plant pots, treated wood or other debris, and request a disposal receipt if the contractor bills disposal at cost. [2]

Compare the full job price

Request a fixed total for a defined scope, or ask an hourly contractor to state crew size, billing increments and a spending limit. Confirm whether travel, loading time, hauling, disposal and applicable taxes appear in the total. Agree that the crew must obtain your approval before adding work.

Use the chart as a regional disposal reference when reviewing a hauling charge. Metro Vancouver publishes yard-trimmings and clean-wood fees of CAD 139 per tonne from July 1, 2026, with a CAD 10 minimum per load. These are facility fees; they do not establish a contractor's labour, transport or total cleanup price. [3]

Keep the Burnaby Eco-Centre fee separate from that regional reference. The City publishes a green-waste drop-off fee of CAD 124 per tonne. Metro Vancouver lists CAD 139 per tonne for yard trimmings and clean wood at its facilities. Confirm the actual destination and current charge before approving a disposal estimate. [2] [3]

Check plant removal before scheduling

Check your exact address against CFIA's Burnaby regulated-area map if the work includes uprooting plants or removing sod. CFIA's boundary description includes land around Government Street, Burnaby Lake and Still Creek, but you should use the map to assess your property rather than rely on a neighbourhood name. [4]

CFIA requires a movement certificate before plants with attached soil, soil-related matter or growing media leave a regulated area. This requirement applies year-round. Ask who will obtain the certificate and arrange an approved destination. CFIA asks applicants to submit the movement application at least five business days before the proposed movement date; incomplete applications can delay the process. [5]

Distinguish that federal requirement from the Eco-Centre's instructions. The City describes seasonal movement restrictions for above-ground plant parts, while CFIA's guidance lists clippings, trimmings and green waste substantially free of soil as exempt. Confirm destination acceptance with the City and certificate requirements with CFIA before the crew loads material affected by this difference. [2] [5]

Metro Vancouver published disposal rates

Choose a cleanup and disposal plan

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph each work area and mark plants the crew must keep.
2. List cleanup tasks and request separate prices for optional pruning or removal.
3. Show the contractor gates, stairs and the proposed loading location.
4. Choose whether the crew will use your bin, leave a pile or haul material away.
5. Ask the contractor to identify excluded materials and name their disposal destination.
6. For uprooting, ask the contractor to check the regulated-area boundary and certificate requirements.
7. Confirm the total price, extra-work approval process and final cleanup standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave all cleanup waste in my green bin?

Use it for accepted yard waste within the bin's capacity. Burnaby accepts grass clippings, weeds, plants, flowers and branches up to 4 inches in diameter. The City excludes soil, sod, rocks and stumps, and requires the lid to close. Ask the crew to separate excluded material. [1]

Does free resident drop-off mean contractor hauling should be free?

Do not assume that. Burnaby describes its free allowance as a resident benefit requiring proof of residency. Ask the contractor to explain disposal eligibility and quote loading and transport separately, even if the destination accepts a qualifying resident load without a disposal charge. [2]

Do cut leaves and branches need a Japanese beetle movement certificate?

CFIA exempts above-ground plant parts and green waste substantially free of soil. The Eco-Centre page describes different seasonal instructions, so confirm its acceptance conditions before hauling. Plants with attached soil leaving a regulated area require a CFIA certificate year-round. [2] [5]

What should I ask before accepting an hourly quote?

Ask how many workers will attend, whether the rate covers the whole crew, when billing starts and whether loading and travel count as paid time. Set a spending limit and require approval for extra work. Confirm the disposal destination and whether its fees appear in the estimate.