Compost & Yard Waste

Compost and yard waste is collected weekly on Mondays, except for holidays. Leave items curbside by 7 a.m. for pick-up.

Yard Waste

Yard waste items like grass clippings, leaves, and weeds can be recycled and reused as yard fertilizer! 

All yard waste must be in paper bags or trash cans, and it cannot be mixed with household waste or other non-organic items. Please do not use your City-issued trash bin to collect yard waste.

Acceptable items include yard debris, leaves, grass clippings, and tree branches. Branches should not exceed four feet in length and six inches in diameter and must be tied in bundles that do not exceed 50 pounds with a hemp rope or twine or placed in containers to be collected.

Unacceptable items include bamboo, dirt, stumps and treated lumber, painted wood, pallets and similar items. 

To learn about the the City's leaf collection service, please visit the Leaf Collection page.

Contact Us

  1. Public Works

    Main Line | 7 AM - 3:30 PM
    Phone: (301) 985-5032

Residential Compost

The City of Hyattsville offers regular residential compost pick up on Mondays (except for holidays). This program is limited to residences in the incorporated City limits and does not include commercial or multi-family properties. 
 
There are also compost drop-off bins located in several City parks! Any City resident can bring compost to these bins. The green bins are labeled as "Food Waste Compost Only" and located at:

  • Driskell Park (3911 Hamilton Street)
  • Heurich Park (2800 Nicholson Street)
  • University Hills Duck Pond (3400 Stanford Street)
  • Department of Public Works Operations Center (4633 Arundel Place)
  • Rhode Island Trolley Trail (adjacent to the parking lot next to the Palette Apartment complex, 5501 45th Avenue)

Rhode Island Trolley Trail Compost Bin

Compost Guidelines:

Kitchen food scraps and yard waste can all be composted! Find a full list of accepted items here.

Compost can be placed in any sturdy container, though it is recommended that the bins have a secure lid to prevent animals from accessing the materials. Yard waste like grass clippings, leaves, and other plant material should be bagged in paper yard waste bags. Compost pails and biodegradable compost bags are available from local hardware stores and online retailers.

Compost bins are coming! The City has purchased 35 gallon compost toters for all residences serviced by the City's Department of Public Works. The bins are in production and expected to arrive in July 2023. They will be delivered to homes with composting instructions once they arrive!

Do Compost:

  • fruits and vegetables
  • breads, pastas & grains (no raw dough)
  • meats
  • bones
  • coffee grounds and filters
  • corrugated fruit & vegetable boxes
  • soiled paper napkins
  • soiled pizza boxes
  • approved compostable tableware
  • tea bags and loose tea leaves
  • dairy products
  • egg and seafood shells
  • yard trimmings
  • leaves
  • grass

Do NOT Compost:

  • fats
  • oils
  • leftover grease
  • plastic , metal or glass containers & utensils
  • household trash or pet waste
  • styrofoam
  • facial or toilet tissue

Where Does My Compost End Up?

The City of Hyattsville collects and delivers compost to the Prince George's County Organics Composting Facility, located at 6500 Old Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. The facility uses the material to produce Leafgro Gold, a nutrient rich solution used for planting and gardening. Visit the Maryland Environmental Service's web page to learn more about their process.

Why Compost?

According to the U.S. EPA, food scraps are the largest category of material sent to landfills. When left to rot in a landfill, food produces gases harmful to the environment and human health.

Additionally, the City pays tipping fees for every ton of waste taken to the County landfill after our regular trash routes. The fees for organic waste are significantly cheaper than the fees for trash! 

By putting compostable items in the compost bin instead of the trash bin you can help the City realize savings that can be used for other City services. Talk about turning trash into treasure!