Grand Rapids Yard Waste Drop-Off Opens, Curbside Collection Starts Next Week

If your yard looks as busted as mine does after this winter, good news! The City of Grand Rapids is opening the yard waste drop-off site and and starting yard waste collection next week.

When Does Grand Rapids Yard Waste Collection Begin?

The City of Grand Rapids begins its curbside yard waste collection service for the season Monday, April 3, 2023.

Curbside yard waste is collected on the same day as garbage collection through the second Saturday in December. All yard waste needs to be placed at the refuse collection point by 7 a.m.

Grand Rapids yard waste curbside collection is a pay for service option offered by the Department of Public Works. You can sign up for yard waste curbside collection here.

• City yard waste tags are $2.50 each
• City yard wastepaper bags are $12.50 for a package of five
• Yard waste cart tags are $6 each
• A yard waste cart is $27.50 to order.
• Each time you would like your cart emptied, attach a yellow Yard Waste Tag to the cart. Each tag is $6.00.
• Cart tags and bags are available at City Hall and select supermarkets.

When Does Grand Rapids Yard Waste Drop Off Site Open?

The free yard waste drop-off location at 2001 Butterworth SW opens April 3, 2023.

It's open Monday through Saturday 7:30a.m. to 4:30p.m.

You can also grab free wood chips and compost while you're there!

Residents can pick up up to one cubic yard of material once per year on a first come basis. Organics and composting vendor We Care Denali manages all on site operations, working to turn yard waste into a high-quality compost.

The City of GR shares the following reminders about yard waste collection

• All yard waste other than bulk or bundled needs to be placed in a City yard cart or City yard waste paper bag and be visible for collection.
• Yard waste bags cannot be overfilled. There is a 30-pound weight limit on the bags.
• Dirt, stones, and manure are not acceptable.
• We can accept other bags (Meijer, Lowes, Menards, etc.), but a yard waste bulk tag must be attached to each bag.
• Bulk yard waste materials need to be tagged and tied.
• Bundled yard waste cannot exceed 4 feet in length and 2 inches in diameter.
• Raking or sweeping of leaves or any other material into the street or gutter is not permitted. Material swept into the street can clog catch basins and cause street flooding, and the property owner may receive a code enforcement fine.

What Is Accepted Yard Waste in Grand Rapids?

According to the City of Grand Rapids,

Yard Waste Includes:

• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Brush
• Twigs (less than two inches in diameter)
• Garden Plants
• Tree Limbs - cut 5' or less
• Logs - cut 5' or less

Yard Waste Does Not Include:

• Sod
• Dirt
• Stones
• Broken concrete
• Trees
• Railroad Ties
• Stumps
• Animal feces and dead animals

You can find additional information here or call 616-456-3000.