Yard Waste

Open to Ramsey County residents.

• A photo ID is required.
• Social distancing is recommended.
• Washington County residents may use the Arden Hills, Battle Creek, Frank & Sims and White Bear Township collection sites. A photo ID is required.
• No waste from commercial lawn care, landscape or tree services accepted.
• Keep leaves and grass separate from trees and shrubs. Place in appropriate pile.
• Bags of yard waste, including biodegradable bags, must be emptied on site and taken with you.
• Place bagged food scraps in the designated dumpster.
• Compost and wood mulch availability may change before the website is updated.
• Do not remove wood waste from the yard waste sites. There are restrictions on transporting diseased trees.
• Do not remove plants from the yard waste sites to prevent the spread of jumping worms.

Tips to avoid a wait at yard waste sites

How-to videos for yard waste collection sites:

• English
• Español
• Hmoob
• Soomaali 

Ramsey and Washington counties have an agreement that allows residents to share use of the following yard waste sites. 

Ramsey County residents

Ramsey County residents may now drop off yard waste and food scraps at Washington County’s Hugo yard waste site.

• A photo ID is required.
• For more information on hours, directions and materials accepted.

Washington County residents

Washington County residents may drop off yard waste and food scraps at the Ramsey County's Arden Hills, Battle Creek, Frank & Sims and White Bear Township collection sites.

• A photo ID is required.
• For more information on hours, directions and materials accepted.

Below is a list of commerical sites. Contact directly for hours and materials accepted.

Ramsey County

• Environmental Wood Supply (Businesses only) 
• Kern Landscape Resources
• Twin Cities Refuse & Recycling  

Hennepin County

• The Mulch Store
• Ceres Environmental Services Inc. 
• SKB Environmental 

Washington County

• Rumpca Companies

If you enjoy working with the community, consider applying to be a Service Worker at a yard waste collection site. Visit our employment page or call 651-266-2700 for more information.

Invasive plants, such as garlic mustard, are accepted at all yard waste sites. Invasive trees and shrubs, such as buckthorn, are accepted at yard waste sites that accept brush. Seeds from these plants are destroyed from the high heat either during the composting process or the burning of mulch for energy recovery.

Learn more about invasive plants in Minnesota here.

Emerald Ash Borer

Due to the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine, Ramsey County residents cannot transport ash trees, including ash limbs, branches, logs and untreated ash lumber with the bark attached, outside Ramsey and Hennepin counties.

More information

• Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Arrest the Pest hotline: 651-201-6684

Jumping worms

Jumping worms are an emerging issue in our area. We are working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to develop the precautions for our yard waste sites.

Compost available at our yard waste sites is at low-risk for jumping worms. Residents may not take plant material home with them from any county yard waste site.

Ramsey County no longer accepts dirt or sod at its yard waste sites. Find other disposal options.

Learn more

To protect your health and the health of others, learn about using recreational wood fires safely.

• Environmental Protection Agency's Burn Wise Program
• American Lung Association

Are you looking for expert advice on home composting, yard waste reduction or environmentally-friendly yard care? Master Gardeners host free information booths during spring, summer and fall at select Ramsey County yard waste collection sites. Call the Master Gardener line at 612-301-7590 for more information.

Starting Sept. 1, 2023, mechanical or hydraulic dumping trailers and dump trucks will not be allowed at Ramsey County yard waste sites - this includes both residential and commercial equipment. Dumping trailers and dump trucks pose safety and contamination concerns and are primarily used by commercial services, which are not permitted at our yard waste sites. If you have a dumping trailer or dump truck, you should use a commercial yard waste site. Read the policy