The City of Clearwater provides year-round curb-side compost pick-up, including brush and other yard waste, for the benefit of city residents. There is no charge for pick-up.

Pick-Up Days:

Compost pick-up is scheduled for the first Wednesday of each month.  Depending upon the volume, pick-up may extend into Thursday to complete the entire city.

Place Compostable bags/piles either at the curb or at the edge of your alley by 7:00AM on the scheduled pick-up date.

Requirements:                                                                                                                                                   

• Authorized compost includes leaves, grass clippings, or small brush up to 6 inches in diameter or smaller.
• Compostable bags are required and shall not exceed 50lbs at pick-up.
• Compostable bags include brown paper bags or bags marked as BPI-certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute.               
• Bags must be knotted. Do not use zip ties, wire ties, or other non-compostable material.
• Residents are responsible for the purchase of compostable bags. Bags are available to purchase from online or in-store retailers. We recommend only purchasing bags as-needed; compostable bags have a shelf-life and will begin to decompose.
• The City of Clearwater will begin to enforce this requirement starting June 1, 2024. Failure to use compostable bags will result in no pick-up.
• Leaves and grass clippings must be in a compostable bag.
• Brush/branches must be piled in an orderly manner with the largest end towards the street.
• Not eligible for pick-up:
• Stumps or root balls
• Any brush with dirt attached
• Non-BPI certified compostable bags or any bags secured with zip ties, wire ties, or string.
• Overfilled, ripped or untied bags
• Compost materials from properties outside of the City of Clearwater (non-residents). Compost materials must originate from properties within city limits.

Example of brush/branches placement for pick-up.

City staff operate a woodchipper along the pick-up route.

Failure to comply with any of the requirements will result in no pick-up service for that day.

Drop-Off Option:

Residents may also drop off your grass clippings/leaves at the City compost site located at the City Maintenance Shop, 1275 County Road 75 NW, Clearwater, MN 55320.

The compost site is available to residents living within the City of Clearwater limits.

• If you are using approved compostable bags, you may leave materials in the bag. Please ensure the bags meet the compostable bag requirements outlined above.
• If you are using non-compostable bags, all grass clippings and leaves must be emptied from the bags before disposal.
  

Residents are also welcome to take compost and wood chips from the designated piles for personal use. 

The compost site is monitored by security cameras. Unauthorized use or violations of site rules may result in prosecution.

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For more information about curb-side compost, please see City Code Sec. 14-192 – Curb-side compost.

If you have any questions, please reach out to John Schmidt, Public Works Supervisor, at 320-290-2233.