Wednesday, Nov. 13 9:30 AM Update

Yard waste trucks finished Friday's routes on Monday. They completed half of Monday's routes as well.

Today they are working in Monday's routes to complete those first, then they will move into Tuesday's routes.

The yard waste trucks are filling fast, there are a lot of bags out there.

A reminder that all collection is one day delayed all week because of the Veterans Day federal holiday on Monday. 

Yard waste schedule through end of 2024

Yard Waste collection runs weekly through the week of December 13. Since we know some species of trees lose their leaves late, we also have a one day drop off for leaves on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 9 AM to 12 PM at the Reuse & Recycling Center, 33 Ryder Street. Arlington residents only, no businesses, please bring ID.

Previous Article:

Prepare your yard waste correctly for collection

• must be placed in paper leaf and lawn bags, or
• ok to place to in reusable barrels but a town Yard Trimmings sticker is required
• Yard Trimmings stickers are available, free, at Town Hall office or at DPW, 51 Grove Street
• Yard waste can include leaves and green or dried plant material
• Sticks and stems are ok up 1" in diameter
• Sticks and branches over 1" diameter are not allowed and would have to be disposed of with a landscaping company- these are not allowed in the trash by state law
• Also not allowed in the trash or in the yard waste collection are the following:
  • soil and sand
  • rocks
  • root balls
  • road debris such as concrete or asphalt
  • All of the above must be disposed if by a private hauler
• No plastic will be accepted as, or in, yard waste. That includes string, plastic bags, holiday decorations, or silk/plastic flowers/plants.

About Weeds

• Typical yard weeds are allowed as "green or dried plant material" and examples include dandelions and crab grass, with soil shaken off.
• Some weeds are considered "invasive" (by the state) and are not typically desired as yard waste, however only certain plant parts are problematic at certain times of the year. "Problematic" means that the plant part may not decompose fully in a composting facility where our yard waste is processed. Examples include:
  • Garlic ginger when it's flowering
  • Knotweed flowers, seeds, and roots. Stalks will decompose and are not a problem.
  • Bittersweet seeds, the stems and roots will decompose.
  • Swallow-wort seed pods

The plant parts listed above can be collected and disposed of trash only if they are placed separately in a plastic bag, labelled with an'Invasive WEEDS" sticker (available at DPW) and placed with the trash. We ask residents to help limit the amount of organic material going into the trash to only include these plants parts listed. 

If you are planning an invasive weed reduction or elimination project, be sure you are either on your personal property or have the permission of the land owner/municipality before removing plant material of any kind. Arlington Municipal Contact