2024 Yard Waste Collection Schedule (as shown on page 3 of Collection Guide)

• From January 2024 through December 2024, curbside yard waste collection will be provided for a total of 22 weeks, beginning the week of April 22, 2024, as outlined below.
• Your collection date is the same as your recycling collection date and is determined by your Street (complete list on pages 6 through 9 of 2024 Collections Guide).

Collection Guidelines

• What is accepted?
  Leaves, grass and other easily raked material. Branches and small brush must be less than 3-inches in diameter and cut into 3-foot lengths, bundled and tied. Branches larger than that should still be cut down and disposed of through a private contractor.
• What do we need to do?
  Place items in paper yard bags (available for purchase at grocery & home improvement stores) or loose in open barrels, curbside. Do not mix yard waste and household items. No Plastic Bags.

Other Available Options for Yard Waste Disposal

• Purchase an Earth Machine Compost Bin for $25.00: Dedham residents can purchase an Earth Machine Compost Bin at a reduced rate! These 80-gallon bins are an at-home, durable backyard compost bin designed to compost food and yard waste, effectively diverting it from landfills. Each bin has the capacity to hold 11 cubic feet of material, the equivalent of about 4 bags of leaves.
  • Made from 50% post-consumer recycled plastic
  • Designed to help hold in heat and moisture while keeping animals out
  • End result is organic material that can be used for future plantings, as mulch, add to lawns, potting soil, etc.
  • These compost bins are designed for food and yard waste only.
  • How to Purchase: To purchase an Earth Machine Compost Bin, please complete the online order form or contact the Town Manager's Office at 781-751-9100. ($25 Fee Payable by check made out to the Town of Dedham)
  • For more information about the Earth Machine Compost Bin and how to use them, please visit the Orbis Corp. site  
• Composting in Your Yard: Composting is the decomposition of organic materials for reuse with planting, reseeding, and gardening. To compost yard waste, you can use a bin (such as the Earth Machines available for purchase through the Town Manager’s Office), a barrel bin made from plastic garbage cans, wire bins, or make a compost pile. For instructions and information about each of these options, please visit the MassDEP website at  https://www.mass.gov/doc/home-composting-tips-a-guide-to-composting-yard-food-waste/download
• Mulch Your Clippings: Spreading your lawn clippings, otherwise known as mulching, is a great way to encourage healthy lawn growth and can save time and money. Grass clippings contain high levels of nitrogen that is a key ingredient in fertilizer and are largely made up of water that helps them to decompose faster so as to not harm the lawn. For more information about mulching, please visit the MassDEP website at https://www.mass.gov/guides/lawns-and-landscapes-in-your-watershed
• Curbside Compost Services*: A relatively new option for residents is to contract with local companies that will pick up your food scraps, yard waste, and other organic material to compost for you and you receive soil in return that can be used for plantings, gardening, mulch, and to add to your lawn at home. The following companies provide residential service to Dedham, and service plans are available to meet a variety of schedules and budgets:
  • Black Earth Compost
  • Bootstrap Compost

  *NOTE: The Town of Dedham does not have a contract with either company listed above and is providing this information as a resource to residents who may be interested in this option for yard waste disposal and composting.