Salt Lake City, UT Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Container issued
- 1 per refuse-service residence, free
- Second container
- Needs sustainability director approval
- Allowed contents
- Yard waste + clean food scraps only
- Opt-out
- Allowed, but § 9.08.095 still applies
Summary
Every residence with city refuse service gets at least one automated green waste container for yard trimmings and grass clippings, collected free alongside regular refuse pickup, with special bulky yard-waste collection events run periodically by the city.
Each residence with at least one city issued refuse container shall be issued at least one green waste container. One additional green waste container may be provided at no additional charge upon approval of the director of sustainability or designee. Owners or property managers of residences receiving city refuse collection service will not be charged for green waste collection service in addition to the refuse collection fee shown on the Salt Lake City consolidated fee schedule.
b. Owners or property managers of residences may opt out of green waste collection service, but shall comply with section
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Salt Lake City's Public Utilities/Sustainability Department issues each refuse-service residence one automated green waste container at no added cost beyond the standard refuse fee; a second container needs sign-off from the director of sustainability. Owners can opt out, but must still follow the allowable-materials rule in § 9.08.095, which limits the green cart to yard waste (grass, prunings, landscaping debris) and uncontaminated fruit/vegetable kitchen scraps. During periodic special collection events, residents must keep bulky yard waste separated from other solid waste.
Violations & Fines
Non-yard-waste materials (garbage, plastic, treated wood, dirt) in the green cart let the hauler leave it unemptied until sorted, followed by code enforcement under § 9.08.115; unauthorized container removal triggers a per-container service fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I pay extra for the green waste cart?
What can I put in the green waste container?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
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Yard Waste Collection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle yard waste collection.