Yard Waste

Open to Ramsey County residents.

• A photo ID is required.
• Social distancing is recommended.
• 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 in the designated dumpster.
• Compost and wood mulch availability may change before the website is updated.
• Do not remove wood waste from the yard waste sites. There are restrictions on transporting diseased trees.
• Do not remove dirt or sod from the yard waste sites (White Bear Township) to prevent the spread of jumping worms.
• Do not remove plants from the yard waste sites to prevent the spread of jumping worms.
• Get tips on how to avoid a wait at yard waste sites during the busy fall season.

How-to videos for yard waste collection sites:

• English
• Español
• Hmoob
• Soomaali 

Ramsey and Washington counties have an agreement that allows residents to share use of the following yard waste sites. 

Ramsey County residents

Ramsey County residents may now 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.

Washington County residents

Washington County residents may drop off yard waste and food scraps at the Ramsey County's Arden Hills, Battle Creek, Frank & Sims and White Bear Township collection sites.

• A photo ID is required.
• For more information on hours, directions and materials accepted.

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

Ramsey County

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

Hennepin County

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

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

Jumping worms

Jumping worms are an emerging issue in our area. We are working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to develop the best precautions for our yard waste sites.

At the White Bear Township yard waste site, dirt and sod are still accepted for drop-off. However, residents may not take this dirt or sod home with them.

Our compost and wood mulch are at low-risk for jumping worms. 

Learn more.

To protect your health and the health of others, learn about using recreational wood fires safely.

• Environmental Protection Agency's Burn Wise Program
• American Lung Association

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. 

To protect the health of volunteers, county staff and residents, Ramsey County is not offering community volunteer dates at the yard waste collection sites in 2020.

Learn other ways to help and stay informed during the COVID-19 pandemic.