Yard Waste and Backyard Composting

Yard Waste Collection

Yard waste cannot be put in your garbage cart. There is an annual fee of $119.06 for yard waste collection. Yard waste can be turned into compost and used to improve soil and plant growth by disposing of it with one of these three options:

1. Residential Collection
2. Yard Waste Drop-Off Site
3. Backyard Composting

Residential Collection

Weekly Collection

Get a yard waste cart and up to eight compostable bags collected each week. There is an annual fee of $119.06. This fee is not adjusted if service ends early in the season. Yard waste collection is the same day as garbage collection. 

Yard waste collection is available from April 1 to November 30, weather permitting. Enrollment for the coming season closes March 31, 2025. You must contact the City to enroll.

Your subscription automatically renews each year. You must contact us to cancel your subscription.

One-Time Pick-Up

You can set out a compostable bag or bundle of yard waste beside your garbage cart ($4 per bag/bundle).

Preparing for Collection

• Yard waste collection is the same day as your garbage collection.
• Place yard waste out by 6 a.m. on collection day. Keep three feet of space around your yard waste cart or bundles.
• All yard waste must be placed in a yard waste cart or a certified compostable bag.
• Yard waste bags or bundles cannot exceed 40 pounds or two feet in diameter and three feet in length.
• Tie bundles with twine or another compostable material.
• Not accepted: tree stumps, dirt, or rocks, and woody items more than three inches wide or three feet long.
• Yard waste service is not available as walk-up service.

 Yard Waste Drop-Off Sites 

Ramsey County operates seven drop-off sites for yard waste. All sites are free and open to Ramsey County residents. Please note: Dumping trailers and dump trucks aren't allowed. If you have a dumping trailer or dump truck, please use a commercial yard waste site. 

Accepted materials and hours vary by location. Many sites also have free compost and mulch available for residents to take. 

Site Locations

Ramsey County Yard Waste Drop-Off Site Details

Backyard Composting

Composting is a process that naturally breaks down organic materials. These include yard waste and food scraps. When your yard waste and food scraps break down, the material created is called "compost." Compost is a great natural soil additive that can be used to improve soil, help plants absorb nutrients, and fight plant pests and disease. Composting also diverts waste from the landfill and saves water!

Introduction to Backyard Composting

Check out this video from Ramsey County for information on how to start and maintain your backyard compost.

What Can Go in My Backyard Compost?

• Leaves, grass clippings, and twigs
• Food scraps, like banana peels and corn husks
• Coffee grounds, coffee filters, and plastic-free tea bags
• Small amounts of non-greasy paper and paper products, like dirty napkins, paper plates, and paper egg cartons

What Can't Go in My Backyard Compost?

• Compostable plastics
• Weeds that have begun to seed
• Meat, bones, grease, or dairy
• Pet waste

Some of these materials can be composted though our citywide food scraps (organics) recycling program. 

Learn more about food scraps and organics recycling.

Composting By the Numbers

• Approximately 28-38% of all waste is compostable.
• 25% of all household waste is compostable.