Green Waste

Residents can drop off green waste at the Helendale Thrift Store Monday – Saturday from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Closed Sunday

26540 Vista Rd. Suite A. Helendale, CA 92342

Accepted Items:

Branches and cuttings, flowers, leaves, grass, sod.
Trimmings cannot exceed 3” in diameter.

Green Waste must be removed from bags or other containers

Not accepted:

  • ​Dirt, ​rocks boulders
  • Large Stumps
  • Yucca, Joshua Tree, Cactus, Mulberry Leaves
  • Painted or treated wood
  • Trash
  • Green waste in bags

What is Green Waste?

  • Yard waste, including tree branches, cuttings, shrubs, flowers, brushes, grass clippings, tree trimmings, and pruning’s.
  • Untreated wood waste, such as branches and stumps
  • Similar materials generated by homeowners from their lawns and gardens or commercial or nonresidential activities
The image shows a pile of tree trimmings with branches and foliage, labeled "Tree Trimmings."
The image shows someone using pruning shears on a leafy branch, labeled "Prunings."
A wheelbarrow filled with grass clippings sits on green grass.
The image features a collection of autumn leaves in shades of orange and brown, arranged on the ground.
The image shows a collection of branches and stumps piled in a container, likely for yard waste disposal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Waste is not:

• Treated wood waste, such as wood containing lead-based paint or preservatives
• Manure and plant waste from the food processing industry
• Food waste

The image shows three items that are prohibited: treated wood, manure, and food waste, each marked with a red "no" sign.
The image shows a soil thermometer inserted into compost or mulch, measuring temperature for optimal decay or growth.

Composting

The image shows a compost bin filled with organic waste, including vegetable scraps, leaves, and flowers.

Backyard composting is an easy of managing green waste at home. Food scraps and yard waste make up about 20-30% of what we throw away, and can be composted instead. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills where they take up space and release methane.

Composting requires three basic ingredients:

A person is dumping food scraps and organic waste into a compost bin filled with dark, rich soil.
  •  Browns – This includes dead leaves, branches, and twigs
  •  Greens – This includes grass clippings, vegetables, fruits, and coffee grounds
  •  Water – Add water to your pile. Your pile should be the consistency of a wrung out sponge.
  •  Your compost pile should have equal amounts of browns and greens. Composting has many benefits       including:
  •  Enriches the soil, helping retain moisture reduces pests and disease
  •  Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers
  •  Encourages the production of beneficial bacteria in the soil creating a rich nutrient filled soil
  •  Reduces methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint

Examples of composting bins

The image shows a compost bin made of wooden pallets, filled with dark, nutrient-rich compost.
A person is mixing compost materials, using a rake in a wooden compost bin surrounded by trees.
The image shows a black compost bin placed in a garden, likely for recycling organic waste.
A black compost bin filled with organic matter, set in a garden with a wooden fence in the background.

Composting Resources

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
https://www.greenmatters.com/food/2018/12/07/ZboPlt/what-is-composting
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/compost/process.cfm
https://www.ecocycle.org/backyard-composting