Composting/Organics

Compost Bin Made Wood

Backyard Composting

Through backyard composting, you can recycle fruit scraps, egg shells, vegetable peelings, grass, leaves and brush into a wonderful soil amendment called humus.

Learn how to compost in your own backyard.

Fall Rake on Leaf Pile

Yard/Tree Waste

Leaves, Grass, & Non-Woody Yard Waste

Examples include:

Acorns, garden waste, grass clippings, leaves, pine cones and needles, sod, soft-bodied green plants and weeds.

Tree Waste

Examples include:

Brush, evergreen boughs, logs, shrub trimmings and stumps.

Search "yard" or "tree" in our Recycling and Disposal Directory to find where to take your waste.

Organics Container

What are organics?

Organics are the biodegradable portion of trash that can be composted at a commercial composting facility.

This includes:

  • all food scraps such as leftovers, peelings and spoiled food
  • soiled, non-recyclable papers such as facial tissue, paper towels, paper napkins and delivery pizza boxes
  • certified compostable products such as compostable tableware and bags labeled with the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) logo

Learn more about organics and how you can be a part of an organics collection or drop-off program.

Why is organics recycling and backyard composting important?

25% - 35% of what we throw away is organic material. Organics such as food waste, non-recyclable paper, and compostable products that are separated for composting can be recycled into valuable compost instead of being thrown away. Compost is a soil amendment that benefits all soil types and greatly improves moisture retention in sandy soil. It is used in landscaping and road construction projects.

Enjoy healthier plants! Compost can be spread on your lawn, as top dressing, or placed around plants, bushes and trees as a mulch to help retain moisture and inhibit weed growth.

Reduce your garbage! Remove the organic material from your garbage and you may be able to have a smaller garbage can.

Conserve water! Placing compost around plants, bushes and trees will help retain moisture so you won't have to water as much.