Cecil County, MD Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Cecil County Code § 318-9(J)
- Size limit
- Limbs up to 3 in. diameter, 6 ft. long
- Allowed container left on-site
- Biodegradable paper bags only
- Excluded material
- Stumps, logs, large branches, grubbed roots
- Drop-off sites
- Central Landfill, Woodlawn, Stemmer's Run
Summary
Yard waste dropped at a Cecil County disposal facility can't be mixed with other waste, per Code § 318-9(J); loose material must come out of its container so the customer can keep or dispose of the container, except biodegradable paper bags, which can be left.
YARD WASTE Vegetative matter such as, but not limited to, leaves, grass, brush, tree trimmings, and limbs not exceeding three inches in diameter and six feet in length; Christmas trees; and certain garden and orchard material. Excluded are stumps, logs, branches, limbs over three inches in diameter, and roots from soil grubbing. ... Yard waste shall not be mixed with any other waste for disposal at any County facility. Yard waste delivered in containers must be removed from the container and the container either taken back by the customer for reuse or disposed of appropriately by the customer based on the type of container. The only exception is for yard waste delivered in biodegradable paper bags or containers.
Full Breakdown
Section 318-2 defines yard waste as vegetative matter such as leaves, grass, brush, tree trimmings and limbs not exceeding three inches in diameter and six feet in length, plus Christmas trees and certain garden and orchard material; it excludes stumps, logs, branches over three inches thick, and roots pulled during soil grubbing. " Yard waste delivered in a reusable container must be removed from that container on-site: the customer takes the container back for reuse or disposes of it themselves depending on the type. The single exception is yard waste delivered in biodegradable paper bags or containers, which may be left at the facility along with the material.
Drop-off happens at the Central Landfill or the Woodlawn and Stemmer's Run Transfer Stations during the hours set in § 318-4, and delivering in any area other than the designated drop-off spot is strictly prohibited under § 318-9(J).
Violations & Fines
Dropping yard waste in the wrong area or mixed with other waste can get a load turned away, and § 318-9(O) makes the person delivering the load responsible for cleanup and for any County costs if material leaks, spills or litters at a facility or on a public road. Vehicles that arrive with an unsecured, untarped load can also be denied entry under § 318-9(A).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix brush and leaves with my regular household trash at the landfill?
What container can I leave at the facility?
What size limbs count as yard waste in Cecil County?
Where do I drop off yard waste in unincorporated Cecil County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cecil County
Compare Cecil County to another location·View the Maryland trash & recycling overview
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