What yard waste is accepted at drop-off sites?
Updated · General guidance — local rules vary.
Call ahead. Hours, fees, residency rules and accepted materials change. Call or check the official source page before you go. Every listing links to its source.
Most public yard waste sites turn what you bring into compost or mulch. That's why the rules focus on keeping the material clean: anything that isn't plant material ends up in someone's garden bed. The details differ from site to site, so treat this as a checklist to confirm against your site's own page.
Usually accepted
- Leaves — loose, or in paper yard waste bags.
- Grass clippings — some sites refuse grass or limit it in summer, and a few (for example, woody-material-only lots) never take it.
- Garden and shrub trimmings, spent annuals, weeds without soil.
- Brush and branches under the site's size limit — see the brush guide.
- Holiday trees, with all lights, stands, tinsel and ornaments removed — often only in January.
Usually refused
- Plastic bags, including "compostable-looking" plastic. Many sites make you empty bags on the spot; some reject the load.
- Soil, sod, rocks, concrete and gravel.
- Lumber, pallets, fencing and painted, stained or treated wood.
- Stumps and root balls, unless the site says otherwise.
- Food scraps — some cities run separate food-scrap drop-offs, but yard waste sites often don't take them.
- Trash, pet waste, and plants treated with herbicide where the site asks you to keep them out.
- Invasive plants or plants from quarantine areas may have special rules — some states restrict moving wood (for example, because of emerald ash borer).
Before you go
- Check hours and the season. Many sites close in winter or run only on certain days.
- Check who can use it. Plenty of sites are residents-only and ask for a driver's license, a utility bill, or a vehicle sticker. Landscapers and commercial vehicles are often banned or charged.
- Check the fee. Some sites are free for residents; others charge by load, by cubic yard or by weight. Ask what payment they take.
- Check vehicle rules. Trailers and dump-bed vehicles are restricted at some sites.
Loading tips
- Use paper yard waste bags or reusable containers you can empty and take home.
- Cover and secure your load — many sites require it, and many states have unsecured-load laws.
- Put the heaviest, bulkiest material where you can unload it yourself; staff often won't help.
- Bring gloves and a rake or shovel for loose material.
Not sure whether something is allowed? Every listing on this site links to the official source page — that page, or a phone call, is the final word.
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