Caldwell, ID Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Bundle length limit
- 4 feet for branches/trimmings
- Tied-bundle weight cap
- 35 pounds
- Not accepted
- Dirt, rocks, construction debris
- Container setback
- 25 feet from street off collection day
- Special/bulky pickup
- Contractor's discretion, residential units
Summary
Caldwell collects yard waste as part of its regular refuse system: tree, shrub and brush trimmings must be bundled at no more than four feet long, and tied newspapers or magazines are capped at three feet and 35 pounds. Grass, leaves and weeds go out as rubbish, while dirt, rocks and construction debris are not accepted under Caldwell City Code § 07-01-01.
BUNDLE: Tree, shrub and brush trimmings four feet (4') in length or newspapers and magazines securely tied together forming an easily handled package not exceeding three feet (3') in length or thirty-five (35) pounds in weight. ... (7) Materials Not Acceptable For Collection: Dirt or earth debris from construction or lawn renovation, rocks, stones, automobile bodies and parts, dead animals, building materials such as masonry, plaster, scrap lumber and wood shavings are not acceptable for collection, and such items shall be collected and disposed of by the building contractor, owner, or occupant of the premises.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 3747, passed 3-16-2026).
Full Breakdown
Caldwell's refuse ordinance defines yard debris through two terms in Caldwell City Code § 07-01-01. A BUNDLE is tree, shrub and brush trimmings four feet in length or newspapers and magazines securely tied together forming an easily handled package not exceeding three feet in length or thirty-five pounds in weight, so branches longer than four feet have to be cut down before they qualify for curbside pickup. RUBBISH OR REFUSE separately covers grass cuttings, dead plants, weeds, leaves, dead trees or branches, wood chips, shavings and sawdust, and this is collected the same way as household waste, in bags or containers rather than loose.
Under Caldwell City Code § 07-01-09(3)(A)(2), containers, bags and bundles all have to be set at curbside, and refuse containers cannot sit within 25 feet of a public street outside of scheduled collection days. Section 07-01-09(7), Materials Not Acceptable For Collection, draws a hard line against dirt or earth debris from lawn renovation, rocks and stones: those are excluded from the regular system entirely and must be hauled away by the property owner, occupant, or a contractor rather than set at the curb. Bulky yard material like a felled tree that exceeds the bundle size can be arranged for special collection, which the contractor may provide from residential units at its sole discretion, rather than as a guaranteed weekly service.
The city clerk or code enforcement officer can prescribe added rules for yard waste handling by resolution once approved by the Mayor and City Council under § 07-01-09(2).
Violations & Fines
Setting out earth, rocks, stones or construction debris for regular refuse pickup violates Caldwell City Code § 07-01-09(7); those materials are not acceptable for collection and must be disposed of by the owner or contractor directly. Oversized branch bundles exceeding the four-foot length or 35-pound bag limit in § 07-01-01 can be left uncollected, and containers stored within 25 feet of the street outside collection days violate § 07-01-09(3)(A)(2).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put tree branches out with my regular Caldwell trash?
Does Caldwell pick up dirt or rocks from yard cleanup?
Where can I store my refuse container between Caldwell collection days?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Caldwell
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