FireSmart Community Chipping Program
FireSmart Community Chipping Program
May is chipping month in Kelowna, a chance for residents to clear highly flammable shrubs and branches from their property with the City's free chipping program.
Book your curbside pickup
Registration is now closed. Thank you to those to signed up!
Contact [email protected]
Get ready for your pickup window
Place materials at the curb by 7 a.m. on the first day of your pickup window. For example: if your pickup dates are May 5–9, set everything out by the morning of May 5. Remember that crews will only collect eligible, properly prepared materials, so confirm what’s accepted and how to stack items before setting them out.
See what materials are accepted
The chipping program only accepts specific high‑risk yard waste and only if it’s placed at the curb in a way that’s safe for crews to handle. Review the guidelines below to confirm your materials are eligible and prepared correctly before setting them out.
Only highly flammable materials will be collected. Be sure to only place the following materials at the curb.
Cedar
Juniper
Mugo Pine
Conifers (spruce, fir, pine)
The chipping program has strict limits to protect equipment and keep the process running smoothly. The following items are not eligible for pickup:
- Deciduous (leafy) trees and shrubs
- Grasses, flowers, bulk pine needles, and other small plant materials
(These belong in your regular yard waste / green bin instead) - Anything with roots, dirt, rocks, or gravel
- Any non‑organic material
(These can damage the chipper and will not be collected)
Any material deemed unacceptable will be left on the curb.
Help keep our staff safe. Follow these steps in advance of your scheduled pickup window.
Place cut ends facing the road
- Stack branches with the cut ends toward the road or chipper access point.
- This speeds up loading and reduces handling time.
Keep piles under 4 feet
- Build piles no taller than 4 feet and avoid spreading them too wide.
- Do not crisscross branches—tangled piles slow down chipping.
- Maximum branch diameter: 8 inches.
Remove materials that cannot be chipped
- Only place trees, branches, and brush from accepted high flammable plants (see above).
- Do not include stumps, dirt, roots, rocks, metal, plastic, construction debris, grass clippings, or leaf piles.
- Unacceptable materials can damage equipment. If damage occurs, residents may be responsible for the charges.
Maintain a 3 foot clearance
- Keep piles at least 3 feet away from fences, mailboxes, parked cars, or other obstructions.
- Avoid placing brush under low-hanging wires or tree branches that could interfere with equipment operation.
Choose a safe placement area
- Do not block driveways, roadways, sidewalks, or fire hydrants.
- When possible, keep piles dry to improve chipping efficiency.
Chipping away at wildfire risk
Since 2022, the FireSmart Community Chipping Program has removed nearly 270 metric tonnes of highly flammable plants across the city, cutting wildfire fuel right at the source. Plants like juniper and mugo pine burn hot and fast because they’re full of fine, dry material and natural oils and waxes that ignite easily. Clearing them out strengthens your property’s first line of defence.
Did you know? FireSmart landscaping is one of the most immediate, high‑impact steps you can take to protect your home and your neighbourhood. Learn how to make your home fire‑resistant at kelowna.ca/firepreparedness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The chipping program is focused on removing the vegetation that poses the highest wildfire risk. Species like juniper, cedar hedges, mugo pine, and conifer branches ignite easily and can rapidly carry fire toward homes.
Because the program is funded through a wildfire‑specific fuel‑reduction grant from the Union of BC Municipalities, it must stay limited to these proven high‑risk materials. The program isn’t designed for general yard waste, so keeping the list narrow ensures the service remains effective, safe, and aligned with FireSmart priorities.
The FireSmart BC Landscaping Guide is the best place to start. It includes recommended plants, landscaping tips, and guidance for reducing wildfire risk around your home. Printed copies are available at the City of Kelowna Parks Office on KLO Road.
You can also use FireSmart BC’s fire-resistant plants for your climate tool. Browse trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, grasses, perennials, annuals, and bulbs that are well‑suited to your area and support FireSmart landscaping.
