Yard Cleanup in Fredericton, NB

Define the cleanup before comparing quotes

Walk the property and list the areas you want cleared: lawn, beds, paths, fence edges and the space behind a shed. Decide where the crew should remove leaves and where you want them retained. The City encourages homeowners to use fallen leaves as mulch in gardens and perennial beds, so a cleanup need not mean removing all leaf litter. [1]

Send photos of the debris, the gate and the route to the loading area. Describe loose rubbish, old landscaping timber and overgrown vegetation as separate tasks. Ask the contractor to identify what the quote includes: raking, bed cleanup, cutting back plants, bagging, bundling, loading and hauling. Mark plants you want preserved before work begins.

Request a total for the agreed scope and a clear method for approving extra work. If the contractor charges by the hour, ask how many workers the quoted rate covers, whether travel and loading count, and whether they will seek approval before exceeding your budget. Ask for proof of insurance and clarify who handles damage to gates, beds or lawn.

Schedule around the actual collection dates

Use the City’s listed 2026 dates when booking a fall visit. Its yard-waste page lists October 26–30 and November 16–20 as the remaining collection weeks. Put prepared waste at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your regular garbage collection day during the listed week. The City does not collect yard waste left curbside outside that week. [1]

If you book earlier, arrange a dry storage place on your property and agree who will move the bags to the curb. Ask the crew to leave access to doors and paths clear. If you want immediate removal, specify hauling in the quote rather than assuming the crew will take everything away. [1]

Check eligibility before relying on collection. The City serves single and double housing units, individual townhouses, condominiums and apartment buildings with four or fewer units, including properties added through Local Governance Reform. The collection truck must be able to access the property. If your arrangement is unclear, contact Service Fredericton at 506-460-2020 before choosing curbside preparation. [1]

Specify bagging, bundling and the disposal destination

For curbside collection, ask the crew to put leaves in compostable paper bags. The City rejects plastic bags and loose leaves, and asks residents to keep leaves out of gutters. Keep brush separate from other yard waste. Branches must measure no more than 5 cm in diameter and 1.5 m in length, tied in small bundles with natural twine. Keep the prepared yard waste apart from garbage and recycling. [1]

The Municipal Soil Management Facility on Beek Court in Vanier Industrial Park offers seasonal 24/7 service between April and November. It accepts loose or paper-bagged leaves, grass clippings, sod, soil, woodchips, manure and small brush under 8 cm in diameter. Its branch limit differs from the curbside limit, so tell the contractor which route you intend to use and confirm access for the proposed load. [1]

The Beek Court facility excludes construction debris, lumber, logs, stumps, plastic bags and branches from diseased ash or elm trees. For materials outside its accepted list, ask the contractor to name the destination and confirm acceptance before loading. Treat removal of old edging, fence debris or landscaping timber as a separate disposal item. [1]

Separate problem vegetation and mixed rubbish

Flag suspected invasive plants before the crew cuts or bags them. The City says homeowners must keep whole invasive plants, cuttings, seed heads and infected ash limbs out of backyard compost and City yard-waste collection. Its guidance also identifies dumping garden debris into parks or wild areas as a way invasive species spread. Ask the contractor to confirm identification and an appropriate disposal route. [2]

For an ash tree infested with emerald ash borer, the City recommends a certified tree care company. Its yard-waste guidance says only debarked or chipped wood should leave the site. Arrange that work separately from routine leaf removal and avoid adding suspect branches to the crew’s ordinary yard-waste load. [1]

For mixed rubbish, the Capital Region Service Commission publishes 2026 landfill rates of $109 per metric tonne for regular garbage, $45 for segregated construction and demolition waste, and $350 for pressure-treated or creosote timber. Ask how the contractor will sort the load and whether their quote includes disposal, transport and loading. These rates do not establish a local cleanup price. [3] [4]

Published regional landfill fees for cleanup-related rubbish

Choose the right cleanup scope

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph the work areas, debris piles, gate and loading access.
2. Mark plants and leaf-mulch areas you want the crew to preserve.
3. Choose curbside preparation or hauling and put that choice in the quote.
4. Ask who supplies bags and twine and who moves prepared waste to the curb.
5. Flag suspect invasive plants, diseased branches and old treated timber before work starts.
6. Confirm the disposal destination and whether loading, transport and disposal are included.
7. Agree on the total or hourly budget, extra-work approval and the finished condition of each area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for a cleanup?

Get quotes for the same areas and disposal plan. The supplied local sources publish waste rules and landfill fees, but no contractor cleanup price range. Ask for labour, supplies, hauling and disposal to be identified so you can compare the full job. [1] [3] [4]

Can the crew leave leaves in plastic bags?

For City curbside collection, use compostable paper bags. The City rejects plastic bags and loose leaves. Beek Court accepts loose leaves or leaves in paper bags, but excludes plastic bags. [1]

Can I keep some leaves in my garden?

Yes. The City encourages using fallen leaves as mulch in gardens and perennial beds. Tell the crew which areas to leave. Keep invasive plant material and infected ash limbs out of backyard compost and City collection. [1] [2]

What should happen if the crew finds unexpected debris?

Agree before work starts that the contractor will show you the material, explain the proposed handling and obtain approval for an added charge. For suspect invasive plants, pause that part of the cleanup until you have confirmed identification and disposal.