About
The County provides weekly curbside yard trim collection services to residences that pay a yearly trash and recycling fee on their property tax bill.
The yard trim collection season runs from April through mid-January. Residents in our Feed the Green Bin collection area receive year-round collection of both yard trim and food scraps.
Yard Trim Containers
Use reusable open-top containers (no County-issued recycling carts or bins) or paper bags. Residents in our Feed the Green Bin program may add yard trim in their green carts. Reusable containers should be lid-less at set-out. No plastic bags are accepted.
Rules & Restrictions
- Yard trim is collected once a week between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Pickup time may vary. Items must be placed out after 6 p.m. the day before collection or before 6 a.m. the day of collection.
- Single-family homeowners must set items to be collected within five (5) feet of the nearest public road fronting their home. Place material away from mailboxes on the opposite side of the driveway, if possible.
- Residents of townhome communities without garages are required to "group" items in designated areas accessible to the collectors such as the curb end of grass islands or at the end of parking areas. Do not block mailboxes or fire hydrants.
- Yard trim will not be collected as trash during yard trim collection season (April through mid-January) in areas that receive curbside yard trim collections.
- Tie brush and branches using string or twine. Bundles may not exceed 4' in length, 18" in diameter.
- Cans, containers, paper bags and bundles must weigh less than 40 pounds.
- Yard trim in plastic bags will not be collected.
- After your items are collected, we recommend removing empty yard trim containers from your curb (or grouping area) on your scheduled collection day to mitigate safety and aesthetic concerns.
- The clean-up of yard trim, especially in grouping areas, that is spilled and/or spread by animals or wind is the responsibility of the residents.
- Bamboo
- Brush/weeds (except Japanese Stiltgrass)
- Grass
- Hedge clippings/light brush
- Holiday trees*
- Leaves
- Seed pods (pine cones, sour gum balls, etc.)
- Small limbs or branches less than 4" in diameter and 4' in length
*Holiday trees are collected during our Merry Mulch season.
- Japanese Stiltgrass*
- Bushes with root bases attached*
- Logs over 4" in diameter or 4' in length*
- Stumps*
- Dirt/soil/mulch
- Yard trim mixed with trash or other materials
- Yard trim placed in plastic bags, recycling carts or wheelbarrows
*These items can be dropped off at our Wood Waste Area at Alpha Ridge Landfill.
FAQs
Yard trim is collected once a week between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Pickup time may vary. Items must be placed out after 6 p.m. the day before collection or before 6 a.m. the day of collection. Contact us or use our online tool to check your collection days.
Important insects and invertebrates depend on fallen leaves and other organic debris for their winter habitats. No need to rake, mow or blow. Help our pollinators and leave the leaves!
No need to bag or rake grass clippings--consider grasscycling! This is a great way to fertilize your lawn and save you time raking and bagging grass. Learn more about lawn care maintenance through the University of Maryland Extension office.
Collections slide for certain County holidays. Visit our Holiday & Inclement Weather page for details. Sign up for our e-newsletter for slide schedule reminders.
While the County makes every effort to provide uninterrupted scheduled curbside trash, recycling, yard trim and food scraps collection services, these collections may at times experience service delays or cancellations due to severe inclement weather. When inclement weather is in the forecast, the Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Environmental Services monitors the weather and road conditions to determine if it is safe for crews to operate and if collections need to be delayed or cancelled. The safety of county residents and collection crews is the Bureau’s number one priority when making this determination. For more information, visit our website.
Not sure about an item? Visit our Know Before You Throw page for recycling and disposal assistance.