Grasscycling is Awesome!
Click here to learn more about why leaving your grass clippings on your lawn is a good thing.
The City of Manassas provides curbside yard waste collection throughout the year to our service users.
Yard waste is the organic waste generated by yard and lawn care and includes leaves, grass trimmings, brush, wood chips, and shrub and tree trimmings.
Yard waste does not include stumps, whole trees, large branches or limbs, or clean-up from storm damage. Removal of trees that are trimmed or cut down by landscapers or tree services are the responsibility of the resident or property owner and will not be collected by the City.
The COVID Gardener …
Did you know … last year, City of Manassas residents generated more than 2,000 tons of yard waste - more than double the normal amount of any previous year. As we make our way toward the garden and start planning for spring, please remember that there are rules for setting out yard waste for collection:
- Yard waste can go in private containers or paper yard waste bags.
- Don’t overload the curb with your yard waste. All branches and brush must be bundled and tied.
- No yard waste in plastic bags will be collected.
- Fallen tree limbs and branches over 4 feet in length and 3 inches in diameter will not be collected.
- No compost, dirt, sand, or stone will be collected.
- Please set yard waste out at the curb on Sunday night for collection on Monday.
How should I set out my yard waste?
Yard Waste is collected on Mondays
- Please set out your yard waste in paper yard waste bags or private containers.
- Your yard waste should be set out at the curb on Sunday night to make sure that it is collected by our contractor.
- Branches or limbs set out as yard waste shall not exceed four (4) feet in length and three (3) inches in diameter and shall be bundled and tied for collection.
- Yard Waste including all brush and bagged leaves shall be secured so as to prevent being blown and scattered by wind.
What will not be collected as yard waste?
The following will not be collected as yard waste, and violators may receive a fine of up to $2,500:
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Stone, brick, sand, rock, asphalt, concrete, pavers, mulch, compost, topsoil;
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Stumps, roots, fallen trees, tree trunks, limbs and branches in excess of four (4) feet in length and three (3) inches in diameter and in excess of fifty (50) pounds;
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Yard Waste and Recycling in plastic bags; and
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Yard Waste mixed with Refuse or Recycling.
How do I report a missed yard waste collection?
You can report a missed yard waste collection by calling the Trashline on (703) 257-8252 during regular office hours, or online by filling in this easy form.
What if I have a lot of yard waste or a tree to dispose of?
If you have a large amount of yard waste to dispose of, you have 3 options:
Can I get in trouble for not setting out yard waste correctly?
Under City Ordinance 98.1 - 19, you could receive a fine of up to $3,000 for any of the following violations:
- Yard Waste set out in plastic bags.
- Loose branches or limbs set out as Yard Waste over four (4) feet in length and three (3) inches in diameter.
- Setting out fallen trees, tree trunks, or tree limbs.
- Loose yard waste.
What is Grasscycling?
Grasscycling is simply leaving grass clippings on our lawn so that the nutrients will be returned to the soil when the clippings decompose. The grass is organic matter that recycles back into the turf as part of a natural process. The nutrients in the grass “feed” the soil and encourage the growth of beneficial organisms – including earthworms, which are extremely valuable to the health of lawns and gardens. In addition to being lush and beautiful, healthy lawns are resistant to insects and disease.
During the growing season, a lawn of 1,000 square feet can produce as much as 200 to 500 pounds of clippings!
In the City of Manassas, we collect over 2,000 tons of yard waste in a year.
Grass clippings break down in anywhere from seven to 14 days. During this process, moisture and nutrients are re-released back to the soil. The clippings actually perform the role of a top-dressing fertilizer. All the beneficial microbes in the soil flourish because of the nutrient-rich cycle of decomposition. The soil structure is improved and root growth is optimized, thus leading to a healthy lawn. This in turn can keep your lawn green and resilient through a dry summer, while also encouraging a better lawn in the fall.
For best results, follow good mowing practices and mow the lawn frequently enough so that no more than one-third of the length of the grass is removed in any one mowing. Your mower blades should always be sharp and the grass should ideally be cut when the surface is dry.
If there are times when the grass has grown too much or too quickly, then rake the clippings and spread the excess clippings around vegetables or flowers. This will help inhibit weed growth while also retaining moisture. You might also want to add extra clippings to your compost pile, but keep in mind that the composting pile should never contain more than one-third of grass clippings.
So … relax and grasscycle!
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