Compost Facility

What Does the City Do with Our Yard Waste?

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Location: 1420 E. 11th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044

Days: Saturdays, March through December 12th

• The Compost Facility will be closed for the Juneteenth weekend, July 4th, and Thanksgiving weekend.

Hours:

• City Load Event Saturdays (Open to All) – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Self Load/Drop Off Saturdays (Lawrence Residents Only) – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The compost facility may close without notice or hours may be subject to change due to weather or other circumstances.

• Customers must bring their own tools (e.g., shovels, pitchforks) to load and unload.
• Personal motorized loading equipment (e.g., skid steer) is not allowed.
• Gates to the facility will close promptly at 1 p.m. All customers must be out of the facility by closing time.
• Do not stop on the railroad tracks while waiting to enter the facility.
• All transactions are cash only. Please bring exact change.
• Absolutely no bills larger than $20 will be accepted.
• No self-load during city-load event days.
• Drop-off and self-load events are for Lawrence residents only.
• City-load events are open to everyone (excluding our April event for residents only)

The Compost Facility is a Cash-Only facility. Please do not use any bills over $20.

The cost and fees for each type of compost service are listed below:

Yard Waste Drop-Off (Available to Lawrence Residents only. Proof of residency required.)

• Small Load – $10
• Large Load – $10
• Xtra Large Load – $20

Self-Loaded Material (Available to Lawrence Residents only. Proof of residency required.)

• > 20 Gallons – $10
• < 20 Gallons – Free

City-Loaded Material

• 1 Scoop – $15
• Scoop and residency limits may apply. See the City-Load Events section for more information.

City-Load Events (Compost & Woodchips)

The City offers City-load days at the Compost Facility several times throughout the year to allow customers to have compost and/or mulch loaded into their trucks or trailers by City staff using loading equipment. All compost facility guidelines are still in effect during City-load events. As a note, please do not self-load during city load events.

To help with traffic control, a limit of one (1) scoop will be in effect until 11 Street is free of vehicles. Those wishing to haul two (2) or three (3) scoops of material are encouraged to come after 10:30am, though the availability of multiple scoops is not guaranteed. Scoop limits will be at the discretion of staff and will be determined on site. The one (1) scoop limit is a total limit per vehicle, not per material.

Cost: Compost and wood chips loaded into trucks or trailers by City staff using loading equipment costs $15 per scoop. One scoop typically fills a pickup truck bed. There is a limit of three scoops per visit.

2026 City-Load Dates (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) [no self-load during these events]

• April 4 (Residents only. Proof of residency required)
• May 2 (Open to All; Woodchips only)
• June 6 (Open to All; Woodchips only)
• October 3 (Open to All; Compost and Woodchips available)

These dates are subject to change depending on weather and material availability.

Self-Load (Compost & Woodchips)

Self-Load Saturdays Only

The City offers compost and woodchips to Lawrence residents at the Compost Facility (proof of residency required). Compost and woodchips are not intended for commercial applications.

Self-loaded compost and woodchips cost $10 per truckload. Small quantities of less than or equal to 20 gallon are free.

Yard waste drop-off is for Lawrence residents. Proof of residency will be required at the gate. Non-residents are still encouraged to come and collect compost and woodchips on City-load event days.

• Accepted materials: grass, leaves, and brush only
• Absolutely no plastic bags
• Brush must not be longer than 4 feet
• Brush must not be more than 8 inches in diameter
• Brush must be loose, no ties of any kind
• Leaves and grass may be loose, or in kraft paper bags only
• Drop-offs start at $10 for small loads. Large loads may cost more.

• Lumber
• Pallets
• Sod
• Stones
• Rope
• Fill Dirt
• Food Waste (Including food grown in the garden)
• Metal
• Plastic
• Tree Root Balls
• Any material from an invasive or noxious species

Compost consists of decayed organic matter and has been proven to be extremely successful as a natural soil amendment. Lawrence Community Compost is made from the yard trimmings and small woody debris collected curbside, as well as grass clippings, leaves, and woody debris from some commercial lawn care providers.

The woodchips the City sells are made from tree materials brought in from residential and commercial sources. Wood- chips are used as a garden mulch and are beneficial for weed suppression and water retention. They can also be used to limit or prevent soil erosion.

The City no longer sells backyard compost bins for residents. If you are interested in backyard compost bins, they can be purchased at many local home improvement stores and online.

Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Douglas County. For more information visit the Emerald Ash Borer Information Network.