Rochester expressly authorizes backyard composting of leaves and lawn clippings. Yard waste not composted must be bagged or containerized, except leaves, which may be set at the curb for a single autumn collection between October 15 and November 30.
City of Rochester Municipal Code Chapter 20 (Refuse Collection), Article II (§§ 20-11 et seq.) governs residential refuse including yard waste. Backyard composting of leaves is authorized by the Department of Environmental Services (DES). Lawn cuttings and trimmings not composted must be placed in a City-issued container, alternate container, or plastic bags and treated as residential refuse. Leaves not composted may be placed in loose curbside piles for a single annual collection between October 15 and November 30; at all other times they must be bagged or containerized. The City's ROC City Compost program (run by DES with hauler Impact Earth) offers voluntary food-scrap collection. No minimum setback for home compost bins is codified. Violations are enforced by
Violations of Chapter 20, Article II are subject to fines under § 13A-11; initial fines typically range from $50 to $150, doubling for repeat offenses within a two-year period.
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