Compost Facility Commercial Drop-Off Program

Compost facility commercial header

Registration for 2026 is now open. Visit our registration page to enroll - 2026 Registration Page

The City of Lawrence allows lawn care and property management companies to drop off material at the City’s Compost Facility located at 1420 E. 11th Street, with authorized access.

Rules & Requirements

A valid email address is required to participate in this program. Companies are expected to check their email frequently. Authorized companies must report monthly usage by the fifth of the following month to remain eligible to participate in the program.

Compost Facility Property Rules

This program is drop-off only. No material of any kind can be removed from the facility. Removal of material constitutes theft of City property.

  • Companies are welcome to purchase material during regular public hours.
  • If large quantities of material are needed, please contact staff about special pick-up options.

No smoking, open flames, or sparks of any kind are allowed on the property. This includes outside the gate and on the access road.

  • No alcohol or loitering allowed on the property.

Only registered vehicles are allowed on the property.

  • All vehicles must display a vehicle identification sticker.
  • Stickers must match the vehicle they are assigned to.

Do not loan or share fobs.

  • Fobs must be scanned each time you enter the facility, even if the gate is already open.
  • Entering the facility when it is closed is not permitted.

Accepted & Non-Accepted Materials

Accepted materials include grass, leaves, brush, and chipped wood.

  • Compostable, brown, kraft yard waste bags are allowed.
  • Brush must be no larger than 8 inches in diameter and 5 feet long.
  • Material must be segregated and dumped into the appropriate piles.

All material not in kraft paper bags must be loose. No bundles, ties, ropes, duct tape, or anything else used to bind material together.  All material must be free of contaminants, including but not limited to:

  • Rocks, gravel, or stones
  • Sand or dirt
  • Landscaping borders
  • Metal
  • Landscaping flags
  • Trash
  • Plastic, including "compostable" plastic

No grass clippings or other material contaminated with persistent herbicides including, but not limited to:

  • Clopyralid
  • Aminopyralid
  • Aminocyclopyrachlor
  • Picloram

Unaccepted Materials include, but are not limited to:

  • Pallets
  • Lumber and other treated or painted wood
  • Sod
  • Metal
  • Food waste, including food grown in a garden and decorative gourds
  • Soil, sand, and dirt
  • Large logs over 8 inches in diameter
  • Tree root balls
  • “Compostable” or “Biodegradable” plastics
  • Rocks, stones, and gravel
  • Rope, wire, and other “tanglers”

The compost facility is not to be used for the disposal of major storm debris. No material from diseased plants No material from any plant listed under any category of the Kansas Noxious Weed list.

Fees and Payment

2026 Fees

Fees are paid for a calendar year and are not prorated. In addition to the Program Fee, you must pay to register each vehicle that you will be using on site. All vehicles that enter the facility must be registered and display an ID sticker.

  • Program Fee: $300.00
  • Vehicle Fees: based on the vehicles Gross Vehicle Weigh Rating (GVWR). The GVWR can typically be found on the driver's side door jamb, or in the owner's manual.
Class GVWR (lbs.) Cost Per Fob
1 0 – 6,000 $105
2 6,001 – 8,500 $135
3 8,501 – 10,000 $170
4 10,001 – 14,000 $205
5 14,001 – 16,000 $240
6 16,001 – 19,500 $275
7 19,501 – 26,000 $310
8 26, 001 – 33,000 Please Email
9 33,001+ Please Email
  • A $25.00 per fob fee will be charged to replace lost fobs.
  • A $75.00 per fob fee will be charged to reactive fobs that have turned off due to violation of rules or requirements.
  • No refunds will be issues for suspension or dismissal from the program due to violation of rules or regulations.

Please read all of the Rules and Requirements(PDF, 213KB) and the Frequently Asked Questions(PDF, 88KB) before proceeding.

Registration

Registration Information

Registration for 2026 is now open. Click here to view the registration form.

Liability Waiver

Please read theLiability Waiver(PDF, 52KB) before beginning your application.

Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Douglas County. Douglas County, along with Jefferson, For more information, visitEmeraldashborer.info.

Contact

For more information on this program, please emailcompost@lawrenceks.gov.