Residents can now compost their yard waste year round

New in 2014, the City of Boston's Department of Public Works (DPW) is adding four summer collections of leaf and yard waste to its spring and fall yard waste collection program. DPW will collect residents' yard waste curbside and it will be composted.

Spring collection runs for four weeks from April 28 to May 23. Summer collection will be during the weeks of June 16, July 14, August 11, and September 15. Fall collection runs for seven weeks, from October 13 to November 28.

Yard waste collection instructions:

Place leaves and yard debris in large paper leaf bags or open barrels labeled "yard waste" (no plastic bags). Yard waste stickers for barrels are available by calling 617-635-4500, or by request online at: http://www.cityofboston.gov/mayor/24?topic=yardwastesticker.

Tie branches with string: 3' maximum length, 1" maximum diameter. Do not put branches in barrels.

Barrels, bags and branches should be placed on curb by 7:00 a.m. on recycling day during the 4-week spring collection, April 28 through May 23.

Leaf and yard waste collection information is available online at: http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/wastereduction/yardwaste.asp. Residents can find their trash and recycling pick-up information online here: http://www.cityofboston.gov/myneighborhood/.