Manchester, NH Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Yard waste definition
- Leaves, clippings, debris, branches <=3in/3ft, Christmas trees
- Set-out time
- No earlier than 4:00 p.m. day before pickup
- Container removal deadline
- 6:00 p.m. on collection day
- Container weight limit
- 75 lbs per container, loaded
- Yard waste volume limit
- None; unlike 190-gallon trash/recycling cap
- Eligible properties
- 1-4 unit dwellings, limited small commercial
- Penalty
- Fine under R.S.A. 47:17, per-day offense
Summary
Manchester's Public Works Department curbside-collects yard waste, defined as leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, branches under three inches thick and three feet long, and Christmas trees, only from eligible properties. Materials go out no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before pickup, separated from trash and recyclables, in containers under 75 pounds.
YARD WASTE. Leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, small or chipped branches (not exceeding three inches in diameter or three feet in length), and Christmas trees. ... (B) No trash, recyclables, or yard waste shall be placed for collection prior to 4:00 p.m. of the day preceding the collection day that has been designated by the Department of Public Works for that area of the city. Empty containers shall be removed from the right-of-way, and stored on the property to which they belong, no later than 6:00 p.m. on the day of collection. ... (D) No trash, recycling, or yard waste containers shall be stored between collections in the front yard of a property, or forward of the building line, if there is other available outdoor space on the property. ... (G) Yard waste must be separated from trash and recyclables.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025).
Full Breakdown
63, YARD WASTE means leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, small or chipped branches not exceeding three inches in diameter or three feet in length, and Christmas trees. 631, one- to four-unit residential dwellings, lodging houses, condominiums not on a private way, and a narrow band of small commercial uses, qualify for municipal curbside pickup; buildings with five or more units and most commercial uses must arrange private hauling. the same day materials are collected. m. Materials must sit along the property's public frontage unless Public Works agrees to an alternate spot, and containers cannot be stored in the front yard or forward of the building line between collections if other outdoor space exists on the lot.
64(G). 66 requires yard waste to be contained per Public Works regulations and caps the weight of any single container, loaded, at 75 pounds. 67(B), though the Public Works Director may still impose limits where street parking, traffic flow or pedestrian safety require it.
Violations & Fines
Violating the placement, container or volume rules for yard waste is enforceable under § 91.76: a fine up to the maximum allowed by R.S.A. 47:17, with each day a violation continues treated as a separate offense. The Department of Public Works and the Health Authority both hold enforcement authority under § 91.61, alongside the Police Department's existing authority to enforce city ordinances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as yard waste in Manchester?
When can I put yard waste at the curb?
Is there a limit on how much yard waste I can set out?
Can I store my yard waste cart in the front yard between pickups?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manchester
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Yard Waste Collection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle yard waste collection.