Posted on November 03, 2025
![yard waste season ending]()
Yard waste collection for communities participating in the Compost It! program will end the week of December 1, 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 Compost It! cart, 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.
Winter Yard Waste Collection
Iowa weather always keeps us guessing, so if you have yard waste left, you’ll have another chance to have it collected! Winter collection will occur December 29, 2025 - January 9, 2026, on your regular collection day.
During winter collection, regular yard waste as well as live Christmas trees can be disposed of curbside.
Have questions about yard waste or the Compost It! program? Chat us in the lower right corner or call 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.