Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot Accepting Diseased Branches and Elm Wood for Winter Season

The City is accepting diseased branches and elm wood at the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot while the Compost Depot is closed for the winter season. Having a bin available during the winter months allows the City to provide a disposal site that better aligns with proper pruning times for trees infected with black knot or other diseases, as well as bylaw-permitted pruning times for elm trees.  

Trees are susceptible to diseases such as Dutch elm disease (DED) and black knot, and once established, these diseases can spread rapidly amongst trees throughout the city. A bin is now on site at the Recycling Depot to assist residents with disposing of these branches properly without causing further spread.  

Prune to Protect 

Pruning elm trees can cause wounds that attract the beetles that spread DED, and therefore is prohibited during the growing season. St. Albert has established Bylaw #5-98, which makes it illegal to prune elms between April 1 and September 30 without express written permission from the City. Currently, St. Albert does not have any trees infected with DED, but with the recent presence of the disease in the City of Edmonton, the establishment of Bylaw #5-98 is a preventative measure to help keep our trees as healthy as possible. 

Pruning for black knot is recommended during the winter months when the fungus is dormant. The fungus forms swollen black cankers or "knots" on the stems and twigs of infected trees. Black knot is well established throughout the province and is not regulated through any legislation. However, it is known to spread rapidly and has the potential to seriously deform the trees and spread to other trees in the area. Black knot most commonly grows on trees in the Prunus family, such as chokecherry, pin cherry, and other ornamental cherry trees. 

Diseased branches cannot go in the Green Organics Cart as the City’s outdoor composting process cannot ensure that fungal spores are destroyed. Residents can dispose of small diseased branches infected with black knot in a sealed bag in their Brown Garbage Cart to prevent the spread of spores. Elm wood must be brought to the Recycling Depot.  

Learn more about Recycling Depot hours of operation, tree diseases, pruning and proper disposal measures at stalbert.ca. 

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