Leaves, Yard Waste & Composting

What You Can Put in Yard Waste

  • Leaves
  • Grass clippings
  • Dead flowers or plants
  • Wood chips
  • Hedge clippings
  • Pine needles
  • Brush 1-inch or less in diameter

Note: Brush 1 to 4 inches in diameter can also be disposed of. See curbside pickup and Composting Facility drop-off rules for brush.

Invasive Plants

Please do not include invasive plants such as Asiatic Bittersweet and Burning Bush in your yard waste.

Bag them with your trash, or use another disposal method.

Find out more about invasives and how to identify them.

What You Can Do with Your Leaves / Other Yard Waste

There are 3 ways you can handle your leaves and other yard waste.

Put Them Out for Curbside Collection

Yard waste must be:

  • Placed in biodegradable paper bags available at most grocery and hardware stores
  • Loose in garbage barrels without lids (brush should not protrude out of the top)
  • Tied in bundles

Yard waste in plastic trash bags will not be collected. 

Brush 1 to 4 inches in diameter should be put out with your curbside trash: 

  • It must be cut in maximum 3-foot lengths and tied in bundles not to exceed 75 pounds in weight or 2 feet in diameter
  • A maximum of 5 bundles may be put out with the regular trash on collection day

Note: These bundles are incinerated and not recycled.

Take Them to the Hartwell Avenue Composting Facility

Yard waste must be:

  • Placed in biodegradable bags that may be left at the facility
  • Transported in barrels or plastic bags that must be removed by the resident

Brush 4 inches or less in diameter should be placed in the brush pile.

Find out more about the Composting Facility, including hours and services.

Compost Them Yourself at Home

Compost bins:

  • Lexington residents can purchase compost bins for $25
  • Pay for the bin at DPW Operations Facility:
    201 Bedford Street
    Lexington, MA 02420
  • Pick it up at the Hartwell Avenue Composting Facility:
    60 Hartwell Avenue
    Lexington, MA 02421
  • Call 781-274-8300 with questions.

Find out more about composting at home from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website.