The City of Rochester announced on Mar. 2 that yard waste pick-up will resume on April 6, 2026, following the end of the current collection period.
This information is important for residents who rely on city services to manage their yard waste and compost materials throughout the year. The city’s garbage contractor will collect yard waste on residents’ regular trash days from the first week of April through the first week of December.
Residents are required to place yard waste in kraft paper bags or containers clearly marked as “yard waste.” Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected. Stickers to label containers as yard waste are available at City Hall’s front desk. The Department of Public Works (DPW) provides chipping services for yard trimmings year-round, with no need for residents to request service, as the chipper visits each street approximately every two weeks. Trimmings should be arranged in one direction and placed at the curb, but items such as lumber, landscape ties, roots, root balls, or picker-type bushes must be separated due to additional disposal costs.
Branches left for chipping must not exceed 12 inches in diameter or four feet in length. Contracted tree trimmings are not eligible for DPW pick-up; contractors must remove any brush resulting from their work. Leaf pick-up is offered only during fall, with leaves raked to the curb for removal. Residents can sign up for updates via the “Notify Me” tab on the city’s website homepage.
The city also reminds residents not to mix brush or garden trimmings with leaf piles because these materials can clog collection machines. If crews find such materials mixed with leaves, they will bypass those piles.
