Posted on March 01, 2024
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The Compost It! program’s curbside yard waste collection will begin for the season the week of April 1, 2024, on your regular collection day.
Your yard waste habits may have hibernated over the winter, but by following these simple tips, your yard waste collection can be a breeze this spring!
Contain it Properly
There are a variety of ways you can get your yard waste collected curbside.
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Option 1: Bags and Stickers. Yard waste can be placed in Compost it! bags or store-brand bags with a green Compost It! sticker attached. Bags and stickers are sold at many local grocery, home improvement, and convenience stores. A complete list of retailers can be found here.
- Option 2: Cart Service. If you’re a Compost It! cart owner, you can throw yard waste in your 96-gallon cart and take it to the curb on your regular collection day! Wondering if a cart might be the best option for you? Find out more about Compost It! cart service here.
Know Your Collection Time
Yard waste is collected on the same day as your garbage each week. Make sure you have it out before 6 AM on your collection day, as some haulers get started before the sun rises!
When you set your items out for collection, remember to leave 3 feet between other carts, yard waste bags, and structures (i.e., mailboxes, lawn ornaments, bushes).
Know What Belongs
Help us do something great with your yard waste by keeping the wrong things out of your bags and carts. The Compost It! program accepts small twigs and branches, leaves and lawn clippings, and any garden vegetation.
Dirt, mulch, rocks, and food waste should be avoided!
Once collected, your lawn and garden debris are turned into Grow Gold Compost, a natural soil enhancer that can be purchased for your next home, garden, or landscaping project.
Have questions about the Compost It! program or what’s accepted? 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.