How to remove and dispose of invasive species

Invasive plants are non-native plants that are detrimental to the ecosystem. 

To identify whether a plant is invasive of not, you can consult the list put together by the Credit Valley Authority.

There are different ways to remove invasive species, and it varies according to the species. Some might even require you to wear special equipment. To learn how to deal with your specific species, you can consult the Technical Bulletins created by the Ontario Invasive Plant Council. 

To dispose of invasive species, you need to consult with your municipality to ensure that their composting method meets the guidelines set by the Ontario Invasive Plant Council to kill the invasives. In the City of Ottawa, you can put invasives in the green bin, but not yard waste bags. 

Should you live in a municipality that does not meet the Ontario Invasive Plant Council requirements, or if you live in a rural area, you will need to solarize the plants before composting them. Solarizing means putting the invasives in black garbage bags and placing the bags in full sun, for a minimum of one week. This will heat the invasive plants so that it cannot reproduce anymore. 

If you are considering burning the invasives, please consult the Ontario Invasive Plant Council to make sure that it is advisable, as some might cause major burns.