Yard Waste Services

Step 1.Review the yard waste service season dates

Yard waste service season is between early April and the 2nd Friday in December. The exact dates depend on weather, so you will want to check back periodically for updates.

Step 2.Review curbside collection options

Your curbside yard waste collection is the same day as your regular waste collection. Don't remember your yard waste collection date? Visit our My Neighborhood page.

• Yard Waste Cart – The cart is $30 to order. Each time you would like your cart emptied, attach a yellow Yard Waste Tag to the cart. Each tag is $6.50. Interested in this option? Fill out this form to order your cart. Refer to our Vendor Location(PDF, 143KB) List to find stores that carry yard waste tags and bags.

Start Yard Waste Services

• Yard Waste Paper Bag – You can use a city yard waste paper bag for leaves, grass clippings and small twigs. Bags are $2.75 each or come in packs of 5 for $13.75. Items in the yard waste paper bag can't weigh more than 30 pounds.

• Yard Waste Bulk Tag – You can use a purple yard waste bulk tag for bundles of larger twigs or branches. You may also attach this tag to a non-city paper yard waste bag.  These tags cost $2.75 each. Bundled branches and twigs shouldn’t be more than 4 feet long or 2 inches in diameter.

You can buy City yard waste cart tags, paper bags, and purple bulk tags at City Hall. You can also buy them at select supermarkets. For a complete list of sellers near you, give us a call. Our number is in the contact us section of this page.  

Step 3.Yard Waste Materials 

Yard Waste includes

• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Brush
• Twigs (less than two inches in diameter)
• Garden Plants
• Tree Limbs - cut 5' or less
• Logs - cut 5' or less

Yard Waste does not include

• Sod
• Dirt
• Stones
• Broken concrete
• Trees
• Railroad Ties
• Stumps
• Animal feces and dead animals

Step 4.Still have questions?

Give us a call.  We are happy to help! You can find our number in the contact us section of this page.

Step 1.You may drop off your yard waste at our composting site

We have a free resident drop off site. It is located at 2001 Butterworth St SW. This is offered to Grand Rapids residents only, so bring your ID for proof of residence. Residents may drop off up to 4 cubic yards each week, at no out of pocket cost. Yard waste must be loose or in a paper bag. Plastic bags are not allowed. People with hydraulic dump-trailers will be required to manually empty the trailer for safety reasons.

Step 2.Hours of Operation

APRIL THRU MID DECEMBER

Monday - Saturday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM 

WINTER HOURS

Monday - Friday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Holiday Site Closures

Our vendor will close the compost site on the following holidays

New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

Our yard waste drop off site is meant for residential yard waste only. Commercial contractors that want to use this site will need to work with our composting vendor We Care Denali who manages the on site operations. Commercial contractors will need to weigh material on our scale and pay the tipping fee.

Mulch and Compost Pickup - 2,000 yards of mulch and compost will be available each season. City resident will be allowed to pick up to 1 cubic yard each season on a first come basis. Material is available each Saturday, April - June, each season. Additional material may be purchased directly from our vendor WeCare Denali.

WeCare Compost - $19.50 per cubic yard

WeCare Natural Wood Chips -$5.25 per yard

WeCare Spring Soil - $19.50 per cubic yard

Step 3.Yard Waste & Food Waste Drop Off Tipping Fees

Retail Customer - $10 per cubic yard

Commercial Customer - $40 per ton

Not sure if your yard waste is eligible for drop off? Give us a call. Our number is in the contact us section of this page.

Step 4.Yard Waste Materials

Yard Waste includes

• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Brush
• Twigs (less than two inches in diameter)
• Garden Plants
• Tree Limbs - cut 5' or less
• Logs - cut 5' or less 

Yard Waste does not include

• Sod
• Dirt
• Stones
• Broken concrete
• Trees
• Railroad Ties
• Stumps
• Animal feces and dead animals

Step 5.Still have questions?

Give us a call.  We are happy to help! You can find our number in the contact us section of this page.