Sarnia compost site opens early for the 2026 season

The Sarnia Compost Site is launching its 2026 season a full month ahead of schedule to help residents divert thousands of tonnes of yard waste from local landfills.

The Sarnia Compost Site is opening its gates a month earlier than usual this year, and began welcoming residents ready to tackle spring cleanup March 2, 2026. Typically, the facility at 379 St. Andrews Street waits until April to begin operations, but the city has extended the season to accommodate early gardening efforts.

The site provides a critical local alternative to the landfill, turning community waste into functional resources. In 2025 alone, the facility processed 8,507 metric tonnes of yard waste and brush. These materials are repurposed into compost, wood chips, and mulch rather than being left to rot in a waste heap.

Sarnia residents can drop off accepted materials free of charge during business hours, which are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proof of residency is required for all drop-offs. While the site is open for disposal now, wood chips are currently available for purchase via debit or credit, with compost becoming available later this spring.

Acceptable items for free drop-off include:

• Leaves, grass, and sod with the dirt removed.

• Garden waste.

• Trees and branches less than four inches in diameter.

Residents should note that the site does not accept brush in bags, yard waste in plastic bags, or larger items like tree trunks and stumps. Soil, stones, and pet feces are also strictly prohibited. This local infrastructure remains a key part of the city’s environmental efforts, keeping organic matter within the community cycle.

While the drop-off site is open now, curbside yard-waste collection will not begin until April 20, 2026. That service will run on alternating weeks based on specific city zones through December. For those who cannot wait for the trucks, the St. Andrews Street location remains the primary hub for early-season disposal.