Yard Waste and Composting Information
Yard Waste
Leaves, grass clippings, garden debris and small brush may be collected curbside in bags with the Ottumwa/Wapello logo printed on them ONLY. These paper bags can be purchased for $1.00 each at major local grocery stores, at the courtesy counters.
Brush and tree limbs must be cut into 36" lengths, bundled and tied into weights of less than 50 lb. Limbs can not exceed 3" in diameter. Properly prepared brush and tree limbs can be collected from the household free of charge.
Yard waste is collected on Tuesdays of each week. If Monday or Tuesday is a holiday, collection will be on Thursday. To ensure curbside collection, place yard waste at the curb by 4:00 AM on Tuesday. Yard waste may NOT be disposed of with general trash in the landfill.
Individuals choosing to haul yard waste to the landfill may do so free of charge. The Landfill accepts all types of yard waste, however, limbs and brush should be separated from grass clippings and leaves. The Recycling Center ONLY accepts grass clipping and leaves. Businesses, including lawn mowing and landscaping services, must take all yard waste to the Landfill for composting. Yard waste must be separated from other waste and removed from plastic bags before disposing in the composting area. Remember, all loads going to the Landfill MUST be covered, or a $10 fee will be charged for residential vehicles and a $24-$50 fee will be charged for commercial vehicles.
Composting Program
The City of Ottumwa is kicking off a new pilot program to increase backyard composting in Ottumwa. Organic materials like grass clippings, leaves and food scraps can be composted at home. The goal of the composting pilot project is to encourage residents to compost household and yard wastes as an alternative to conventional disposal methods. The benefit to the homeowner is the creation of free soil additive for landscaping and gardening.
The City's composting pilot program will be limited to the first 150 applicants. Participants will receive a specially designed composting bin and be asked to provide information to help track the success of the program. Composting program participants may also be asked to help publicize the program and how it works for them. Residents interested in participating in the composting pilot program are asked to contact the Ottumwa/Wapello Recycling Center at 683-0685 to register.
More than 25 percent of the typical household's waste is yard trimmings and food scraps that can be composted. Active participation in a composting program reduces the amount of waste being thrown away, saving space at the landfill and providing a useful alternative to burning.
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