Remember that yard waste is not accepted in plastic bags. Separate yard waste collection for 2010 begins the week of April 5-9, and ends the week of December 13-17. Set out yard waste by 7am on your regular collection day, or after 6pm the night before. If your yard waste was not picked up and is properly prepared, call 617.349.4800. During holiday weeks, collection is one day behind. Click here for a recycling route map or the holiday collection schedule.

What is accepted for yard waste?
The following materials are banned from landfills and incinerators in Massachusetts. All yard waste collected goes to a local composting facility.

• Leaves
• Grass
• Plants
• Shrub prunings and twigs (thinner than your thumb and shorter than your arm)
• Pumpkins

Place yard waste in barrels marked with City-issued yard waste stickers or in 30-gallon lawn refuse bags sold in most hardware stores. Barrels and bags must be set on the curb apart from the trash. Face stickers to the street and do not staple or tape refuse bags. Bundle small twigs and branches with string. Do not place yard waste in plastic bags. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be picked up by rubbish or recycling crews. Call 617.349.4800 for stickers.

What is not accepted?
Do not include trash, food, soil, rocks, tree limbs, tree stumps, dirt or sand with your yard waste. You must call a private hauler for these items. The City will pick up one bundle of lumber, or three limbs (fatter than your thumb) per week with the trash, if tied in bundles no longer than 3 ft and no larger than 3 ft in diameter.