U.S. EPA
Most yard trimmings are composted
EPA estimates 35.4 million tons of yard trimmings were generated in 2018. About 22.3 million tons were composted or mulched, and landfills received about 10.5 million tons.1
Yard waste dumpster: brush, branches and leaves, by local rule
Brush, branches, grass and leaves can fill a roll-off fast, and in many places they are not allowed in a landfill at all. EPA estimates 63 percent of US yard trimmings were composted or mulched in 2018.1 Check the local rule, keep soil out, and plan for the weight of wet green material.
- 63%Composted or mulched
- WetWeighs more
- No soilKeep it clean
Why it is its own stream
Yard waste changes with the season
EPA counts grass, leaves, and tree and brush trimmings as yard trimmings.1 What fills the box, and how much it weighs, depends on when you clean up.
Spring
Pruning, winter storm limbs and bed cleanups. Bulky and tangled, so it fills by space.
Load tipCut limbs to length and lay them flat
Summer
Grass, hedge trimmings and land clearing. Fresh green material holds water and packs down.
Load tipMix grass with brush so it does not mat
Fall
Leaves, and the last cuttings of the year. Light when dry, much heavier after rain.
Load tipCover the box between loads
Winter
Storm-downed limbs and holiday trees. Ice and snow in the pile add weight.
Load tipShake off snow before loading
Seasons are a guide, not a rule, and they shift with your climate. Local collection programs often run on their own calendars, so check yours.
Which container
A clean yard waste box, or a mixed one?
Where yard waste is kept out of landfills, a mixed box may not be allowed to carry it. A clean load keeps the compost and mulch options open.
- Usual fit
A clean yard waste box
Brush, branches, grass and leaves only. Clean yard loads can go to compost sites, as our guide to what can go in a dumpster notes.
- Ask first
A mixed debris box
A little yard waste in a renovation box may be fine in some places and not in others. Tell us what is in it so the load goes where it is allowed.
- Keep out
Soil, rock and trash
Dirt and sod are heavy and quoted differently. See dirt dumpsters. Trash and treated lumber spoil a compost load.
How heavy
Water is what makes yard waste heavy
EPA's loose weights show the spread. Green wood chips weigh nearly twice what dry ones do.2
- Branches and stumps127 lb
- Wood chips, dry243 lb
- Mixed yard waste, loose250 lb
- Wood chips, green473 lb
- Leaves250 to 500
2.5 tons in a full 20 yard
At EPA's 250 pounds per loose yard for mixed yard waste, a 20 yard box filled to the top is about 2.5 tons and a 30 yard about 3.75.2 Leaves at the top of EPA's range, 500 pounds a yard, would double that.
Our dumpster weight limits guide shows yard waste among the materials that go over the tons included most often. Cover the box before rain, and confirm the tons included in writing, since limits vary by hauler and market. Compare sizes in the dumpster size guide.
Prep and loading
Six steps for a clean yard load
Check the local rule
Find out whether your state, county or city keeps yard waste out of landfills, and what it counts as yard waste.
Shake the soil off
Knock dirt off roots and stumps. Soil adds weight fast and can change where the load may go.
Cut to length
Shorter limbs lie flat and fill the box evenly. Some programs set size limits, so ask.
Empty the bags
Ask before loading bagged leaves or grass. Many compost sites want plant material only.
Cover it
Rain soaks leaves and grass, and the scale weighs the water. Tarp the box between loads.
Swap, do not overfill
Stay under the fill line. On a big clearing job, plan a swap when the first box is full.
Keep it out
What stays out of a yard waste load
A compost or mulch site takes plant material. Anything else can get the load turned away.
- Dirt, sod and rockHeavy, and quoted as their own materials. See dirt dumpsters.
- Treated lumber and old fence postsEPA says CCA-treated wood should not be reused in products such as mulch.3 See wood disposal.
- Trash, plastic pots and bagsEmpty them out. Plastic does not compost.
- Diseased or invasive plants, unless the rule allowsSome states treat them differently. In Michigan, diseased, infested or invasive-control clippings are the ones that may go to a landfill.4
Local rules
Many places keep yard waste out of landfills
There is no single national rule. Two state examples show how bans work, and why you should check yours.
Wisconsin DNR
A statewide ban since 1993
Wisconsin has banned leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, and twigs, brush and branches under 6 inches across from landfills and most incinerators since January 1993. The ban does not cover stumps, roots or shrubs with intact root balls.5
Michigan EGLE
Compost it, with narrow exceptions
Michigan's environmental agency says yard clippings such as grass, leaves, sticks and landscape trimmings should be composted on site or taken to a composting facility. Only diseased, infested or invasive-control clippings can be landfilled.4
Your area
Rules vary, so check
Some states have bans, some do not, and cities and counties run their own programs and burn rules. Ask your local solid waste office, or ask us when you order.
How it works with Detritus
One request for the yard waste box
Send one request. We source a roll-off from a local provider in the markets we serve and match the container and the tons included to what is in the pile. Availability varies by market. Composting and mulch outlets differ by area, so ask us where a local program exists.
- The address and where the box can sit
- What is in the pile: brush, limbs, leaves, grass or stumps
- Roughly how much, or the area being cleared
- Any soil, sod or rock mixed in
- Whether it is wet or storm debris
- Dates, and whether you need swaps
Decide
If this, then that
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| A weekend of pruning and brush | A small clean yard waste box, or your city's collection if it runs one |
| Fall leaves on a big property | A clean box, covered between loads, with the tons included set for wet leaves |
| Land clearing with stumps | Knock the soil off, describe the stumps when you order, and check whether your state's ban covers them |
| Yard waste and soil together | Separate them. Soil goes in a dirt dumpster |
| Storm cleanup | Limbs and brush in one box, other debris in another. See emergency restoration |
| A landscaping or grounds contract | Ask about a recurring box instead of one-off hauls |
Common questions
Yard waste dumpster questions
Can I put yard waste in a dumpster?
Usually, in a clean load of brush, branches, grass and leaves. Some states and cities keep yard waste out of landfills, so a mixed debris box may not be allowed to carry it. Check the local rule.
Is yard waste banned from landfills?
In some places. Wisconsin has banned most yard waste from landfills since 1993, and Michigan allows only diseased, infested or invasive-control clippings in landfills. Other states have no ban. Rules vary, so check yours.
How much does a dumpster of yard waste weigh?
EPA puts loose mixed yard waste at about 250 pounds per cubic yard, so a full 20 yard is about 2.5 tons. Leaves run from 250 to 500 pounds a yard, and wet material weighs more.
Can I put dirt or sod in a yard waste dumpster?
No. Soil and sod are heavy and quoted as their own materials. Use a dirt dumpster for them.
Can stumps go in a yard waste dumpster?
Ask first. Stumps carry soil and weight, and state rules treat them differently. Wisconsin's yard waste ban, for example, does not cover stumps or roots.
What happens to yard waste after pickup?
Where a clean load can go to a compost or mulch site, it becomes compost or mulch. EPA estimates 63 percent of US yard trimmings were composted or mulched in 2018.
How do I get a quote?
Call sales at (888) 588-2607 or request a quote with the address, what is in the pile, roughly how much and the dates.
Clearing brush or leaves?
Tell us what is in the pile. Local providers do the work; we hold the contract, own the problems, and send one bill.
Related guides
Sources
- U.S. EPA, Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data: yard trimmings include grass, leaves, and tree and brush trimmings; 35.4 million tons generated in 2018, 22.3 million tons composted or mulched (63 percent) and about 10.5 million tons landfilled. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- U.S. EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (April 2016): composition and other asphalt roofing 731 lb; clean and painted or demolition gypsum board 467 lb; clean dimensional lumber, pallets and crates, painted or stained wood and treated wood 169 lb; clean engineered wood 268 lb; wood chips 473 lb green and 243 lb dry; leaves 250 to 500 lb; mixed yard waste 250 lb uncompacted; branches and stumps 127 lb; other ferrous and other non-ferrous metal 225 lb; major appliances 145 lb; HVAC ducting 47 lb per cubic yard; pallets 25 lb each. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- U.S. EPA, Chromated Arsenicals (CCA): homeowners can usually dispose of CCA-treated wood through ordinary trash collection; state and local governments may have specific guidance; non-household generators are responsible for determining whether it is hazardous waste under RCRA; it should not be reused in products such as mulch; do not burn CCA or other preservative-treated wood in a residential setting. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Landfill prohibited materials and appropriate disposal options: yard clippings such as grass, leaves, sticks and landscape trimmings should be composted on site or taken to a composting facility; only yard clippings that are diseased, infested or part of an invasive species control program can be landfilled (Part 115, NREPA). Checked November 4, 2026. michigan.gov
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Yard Care (PUB-WA-073, revised 2022): since January 1993 state law has banned yard waste, meaning leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, and twigs, brush and branches smaller than 6 inches in diameter, from landfills and most incinerators; the law does not apply to stumps, roots or shrubs with intact root balls. Checked November 4, 2026. dnr.wi.gov