Posted on March 07, 2025
![yard waste season]()
Yard waste collection for communities participating in the Compost It! program begins the week of March 31, 2025, on your regular collection day.
You can set out a variety of yard waste for curbside collection, including:
- Twigs and branches
- Leaves
- Grass clippings
- Garden vegetation (such as spoiled vegetables on the vine or wilted flowers from landscaping)
Items that are not accepted include:
- Dirt
- Mulch
- Rocks
- Food or pet waste
How to Set Out Yard Waste
You have two options for curbside collection:
- Bags and Stickers: Place yard waste in Compost it! bags or store-brand bags with a green Compost It! sticker attached. Set bags at the curb by 6 AM on your regular collection day. Bags and stickers are available at many local retailers.
- Cart Service: If you have a lot of yard waste, consider a Compost It! cart. Just fill the 96-gallon cart and place it at the curb on your regular collection day each week.
What About…
Logs, stumps, large branches, rocks, and dirt? Good question! These items are not accepted in the curbside Compost It! program, but they can be self-hauled to Metro Park East Landfill, where yard waste is accepted year-round.
What Happens Next?
Once collected, your lawn and garden debris is taken to Metro Compost Center at Metro Park East Landfill. There, our team turns and maintains the yard waste for four to nine months as it decomposes. The final product is Grow Gold Compost, a natural soil enhancer available for purchase for your home, garden, or landscaping projects!
Have questions about yard waste or the Compost It! program? Chat with our digital assistant by clicking the icon on the bottom right corner of our page or give us a call at 515.244.0021!
Cities participating in the Compost It! program include Altoona, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Des Moines*, Grimes, Johnston, Mitchellville, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Runnells, Urbandale, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights.
*Yard waste is picked up year-round in the city of Des Moines.