Saint Paul, MN Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Chapter 220 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code treats yard waste as its own regulated waste stream, separate from trash and bulky items. Sec. 02(d) requires that 'yard waste shall be kept separate from other solid waste until put out for collection in a yard waste cart, compostable bag, or yard waste bundle,' and adds that yard waste kept on the property rather than set out 'is to be composted' rather than dumped or burned. Yard waste is defined in Sec. 01(hh) as 'garden waste, leaves, lawn cuttings, weeds, shrub and tree waste, prunings, and holiday trees,' excluding 'dirt, rocks, tree stumps, or any woody items more than three (3) inches in diameter or three (3) feet in length': those go through bulky waste or a private tree service instead.

Residents without a paid subscription may still set out yard waste in compostable bags or bundles, each capped at 40 pounds and no larger than two feet in diameter by three feet in length, but must give the designated hauler at least 48 hours' notice before the collection day under Sec. 04(f). A yard waste subscription (Sec. 01(ii)) runs weekly from April 15 through November 30 weather permitting, provides a free 64-gallon yard waste cart, and lets a subscribing household fill that cart plus up to eight compostable bags each week at no extra charge; sign-up requests are due by January 31 each year. Compostable bags must meet ASTM D6400 compostable-plastics certification or be plain paper kraft bags under Minn. 046.