Residential Yard Debris

Grass Clippings, Leaves & Garden Waste

Yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, and garden waste) should not be placed with your regular trash or recycling. Occupants, owners, or managers are responsible for hiring a waste hauling company to provide collection services for yard waste or self-haul this material to an appropriate facility. Grass clippings and leaves are processed for composting at the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill. For yard waste processing rates, visit Landfill Rates.

Limbs & Branches

Limbs and branches should be kept separate from yard waste (grass clippings and leaves) when arranging collection services or when delivering this material to an appropriate facility. Limbs & branches are ground up to make mulch. For limbs & branches processing rates, visit Landfill Rates.

Yard debris is accepted year-round at the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill.

Seasonal Yard Debris Drop Off Program

The City of Sioux Falls offers free leaf & branch drop off sites during specific periods in the spring and fall for residents. These drop off sites are free to use for residents within the five-county region (Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha & Turner Counties). Branches and leaves must be kept separate, and no root balls, please. Commercial businesses and contractors are not permitted at these free sites and must take their materials to the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill or another approved facility. Visit Seasonal Yard Debris Drop Off Program for more information.

Residential Curbside Yard Waste Collection

Step 1.Arrange Services

  • Residents requesting curbside collection of yard waste (grass clippings, leaves & garden waste) will need to arrange yard waste collection service with their waste hauler or choose a different waste hauler for yard waste collection. Please note, there is an additional fee for this service.
  • Yard waste must be picked up or removed at least once a week.
  • For a list of local licensed waste hauling companies, visit Selecting Your Waste Hauler.

Step 2.Collection Containers

  • Yard waste can be set out for collection in carts provided by your hauler, lawn & leaf “Kraft-type” brown paper bags, or a resident’s own personal container, depending on the collection services offered by the hauler. Carts and personal containers should be made of a rigid material, leak-resistant, and have a rigid lid that fits securely.
  • Yard waste can be placed loose inside these containers. No plastic bags.
  • The top edge of lawn & leaf brown paper bags should be folded closed to prevent materials from spilling or blowing out. Paper bags will decompose during the compost process.

Step 3.Collection Day & Time

  • Your selected waste hauler will be able to provide you with information about our weekly yard waste pickup day and time. Yard waste should be placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
  • Yard waste may be collected on a different day than your trash or recycling.
  • Some waste haulers offer seasonal yard waste collection or let residents suspend yard waste pickup during winter. Please check with your hauler for more details.