Yard Waste

• Open to Ramsey County residents. A photo ID is required.
  • NEW: Washington County residents may use the Arden Hills, Battle Creek, Frank & Sims and White Bear Township collection sites. A photo ID is required.
• No waste from commercial lawn care, landscape or tree services accepted.
• Keep leaves and grass separate from trees and shrubs. Place in appropriate pile.
• Bags of yard waste, including biodegradable bags, must be emptied on site and taken with you.
• Place bagged food scraps (organics recycling) in the separate food scraps dumpster.
• Compost, wood mulch and fill dirt availability may change before website is updated.
• Do not remove wood waste from the yard waste sites. There are restrictions on transporting diseased trees.

How-to videos for yard waste collection sites:

• English
• Español
• Hmoob
• Soomaali 

• NEW: Ramsey County residents may drop off yard waste and food scraps at Washington County’s Hugo yard waste site. A photo ID is required.
• For more information on hours, directions, and materials accepted at the Hugo yard waste site.
• Washington County residents may drop off yard waste and food scraps at the Arden Hills, Battle Creek, Frank & Sims and White Bear Township collection sites. A photo ID is required.

Ramsey County yard waste sites are for residential use only. Here are some commercial sites for businesses. Contact directly for hours and materials accepted.

In Ramsey County

• Environmental Wood Supply 
• Kern Landscape Resources
• Twin Cities Refuse & Recycling  

In Hennepin County

• The Mulch Store
• Ceres Environmental Services Inc. 
• SKB Environmental 

In Dakota County

S&S Tree & Horticultural Specialists, Inc.

If you enjoy working with the community, consider applying to be a Service Worker at a yard waste collection site. Visit our employment page or call 651-266-2700 for more information.

Invasive plants, such as garlic mustard and buckthorn, are accepted at all yard waste site locations. Seeds from these plants are destroyed from the high heat either during the composting process or the burning of mulch for energy recovery.

Learn more about invasive plants in Minnesota here.

Emerald Ash Borer

Due to the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine, Ramsey County residents cannot transport ash trees, including ash limbs, branches, logs and untreated ash lumber with the bark attached, outside Ramsey and Hennepin counties.

More information

• Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Arrest the Pest hotline: 651-201-6684

Are you looking for expert advice on home composting, yard waste reduction or environmentally-friendly yard care? Master Gardeners host free information booths during spring, summer and fall at select Ramsey County yard waste collection sites. Call the Master Gardener line at 612-301-7590 for more information.

UPDATE: Master Gardeners' booths at county yard waste sites have been postponed, as a part of the county's COVID-19 response. More information will be posted when it becomes available. Learn more about COVID-19. 

2019 group registration is now open.

Each fall Ramsey County looks for community groups to assist residents at three yard waste collection sites. 

Community groups will help residents unload yard waste from their vehicles and debag materials into appropriate areas. This opportunity is designed to:

• Enhance public service.
• Improve the quality of service at yard waste collection sites.
• Promote civic engagement.
• Support communities.
• Encourage physical activity.

A community group is an organization sponsored by a public entity (such as a municipality or school district) or by a non-profit, civic or charitable organization that promotes civic betterment or physical or artistic ability. Examples of a community group include:

• Service clubs.
• Youth athletic teams.
• High school bands.
• Youth dance organizations.
• Scouting organizations, etc. 

Community groups need to complete a property use agreement with Ramsey County, have proof of insurance and receive safety training.

Registration for 2019 has now closed. Volunteer dates for fall 2020 will be posted in August.

• Date request form (PDF)
• Group registration instructions (PDF)
• Parental consent form (PDF)
• Property Use Agreement (PDF)