How to Dispose of Yard Waste, Leaves, and Branches in NYC

Leaves, grass, and branches are now part of NYC's mandatory composting program. Here's exactly how to set them out for DSNY, where to drop them off, and what hauling costs if you have more than the curb can take.

If you have a yard, a garden plot, or even a few overgrown planters in NYC, your leaves and branches now have a designated path to the curb. Since April 1, 2025, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) requires every NYC household to separate leaf and yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper from regular trash. That means you can no longer toss a bag of leaves in with the black-bag garbage, but it also means free, weekly curbside collection in all five boroughs.

This guide covers what counts as yard waste, exactly how to set it out, your drop-off options, the rules for branches and Christmas trees, and what it costs if you hire someone to haul a big pile away.

What DSNY counts as yard waste

Yard waste is collected together with food scraps as part of NYC's Curbside Composting program. It includes:

• Leaves and grass clippings
• Twigs, branches, and small limbs
• Garden trimmings, weeds, and plant cuttings
• Real Christmas trees and holiday wreaths (with all decorations removed)

Curbside collection is for waste from your own home. Leaves, grass, branches, and clippings generated by a commercial landscaper cannot be set out for curbside pickup and must be taken to a permitted composting facility instead.

How to set it out for curbside collection

Yard waste goes out on your regular recycling collection day, alongside food scraps and food-soiled paper. You have three accepted ways to present it:

• In a bin: Any bin you label "Compost" works, as long as it is 55 gallons or less with a secure lid. You can line it with a clear plastic, paper, or compostable bag to keep it clean. (Note: starting in June 2026, buildings with 1–9 units are required to use official NYC bins for trash set-out, so check current DSNY guidance for your building.)
• In bags: Extra leaves and clippings can go in paper lawn-and-leaf bags or clear plastic bags set next to your bin.
• Bundled branches: Tie twigs and branches into bundles and place them next to the bins and bags.

After collection, DSNY turns the material into finished compost or renewable energy rather than sending it to a landfill.

Why this matters: composting is mandatory now

Separating organics is no longer optional. After a pause through 2025, DSNY fully reinstated fines on January 1, 2026. For buildings with up to eight units, the penalty structure for failing to separate organics is roughly $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second, and $100 for a third, per reporting on the program. Setting your leaves and clippings out correctly is the easiest way to stay on the right side of the rule.

Drop-off options if you miss collection day

If you generate yard waste off-schedule or don't want to wait, you have a few choices:

• Orange Smart Composting Bins: These DSNY drop-off bins are accessible 24/7 with the NYC Compost app and accept all food scraps and plant waste, including house plants and flowers.
• Green food-scrap drop-off sites & community gardens: Hours vary and many accept only fruit/vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and tea — not branches or bulk leaves. Check what each site takes before you haul material over.
• Community composters such as Big Reuse and local Solid Waste Advisory Board sites accept garden material at certain locations and times.

For curbside-style branch and leaf volume, the weekly curb collection remains your simplest free option. Use DSNY's map at nyc.gov to find the nearest drop-off bin.

Christmas trees and MulchFest

Thanks to year-round Curbside Composting, you no longer need to wait for a special collection window. Place a naked tree — no lights, ornaments, stands, or netting — at the curb on your weekly composting/recycling day.

Prefer to keep the mulch? MulchFest, run by NYC Parks, ran from late December 2025 through January 11, 2026, with a "Chipping Weekend" where you bring a tree and walk away with a bag of mulch for your garden or a street tree. Watch nycgovparks.org each December for the next season's dates and drop-off sites.

What it costs to hire a hauler

Most household yard waste fits the free curbside program. But if you've cleared a backyard, taken down a tree, or have more loose debris than the curb can reasonably take, a junk-removal service is one option. Yard debris is typically priced by volume (cubic yards) rather than by item.

These are sourced industry ranges from NYC junk-removal and yard-debris guides; your actual price depends on volume, access (stairs, walk-ups, distance to the truck), and whether the material is bagged or loose. Always get an on-site or photo-based quote before booking, and confirm the company is properly licensed to haul waste in the city.

Quick checklist

1. Separate leaves, clippings, and branches from regular trash — it's required.
2. Use a labeled bin (55 gal, lidded) or paper/clear plastic bags.
3. Bundle branches with twine, ~2×4 ft, under ~40 lbs, nails removed.
4. Set it out on your recycling day.
5. For overflow, use an orange Smart Bin or, for large jobs, a licensed hauler.

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