Yard Waste Disposal

Get Rid of Your Yard Waste the Right Way

It may not seem intuitive, but yard waste is pollution. You are required to dispose of it properly. Dumping it near ditches and roads, creeks or lakes, or the beach is not a good option.

Leaves, grass clippings, and other yard waste piled near ditches, roads, or water can:

  • Plug storm drains and culverts, causing flooding and increasing maintenance costs.  
  • Add excess nutrients and other pollutants to the water, harming water quality and wildlife.
  • Visit this link for information about nutrients: https://www.lakewhatcom.whatcomcounty.org/lake-threats/nutrients
  • Spread invasive plants, harming native vegetation and habitat.

Best choices for yard waste disposal:

  • Use FoodPlus! curbside service from Sanitary Service Company for yard waste, food scraps, and more. (360) 734-3490  www.ssc-inc.com
  • Take it to RDS Recycling and Disposal Services at 4916 Labounty Dr., Ferndale ,WA 98248. (360) 384-8011  www.rdsdisposal.com 
  • Take it to Green Earth Technology at 774 Meadowlark Dr., Lynden, WA 98264.       (360) 354-4936  www.greenearthtechnology.com 
  • Compost at Home. Learn more about backyard composting from WSU Whatcom County Extension’s Master Composter/Recycler. (360) 778-5800 https://extension.wsu.edu/whatcom/hg/composting/
    • A note about composting at home. A well-managed at-home compost pile can be a good option for disposing of yard waste. But some areas of our county, such as the Lake Whatcom watershed, are sensitive to nutrients from compost piles and compost use. Sending your yard debris to commercial composting facilities such as the options listed above is the best option for water quality in these areas. 
  • A note about mulching mowers. In most areas of the county mulching mowers are a great option and return nutrients to the soil where they feed your lawn.  But in the Lake Whatcom watershed excess phosphorus in the mulched clippings ends up in the lake where it feeds algae blooms, harming water quality.  If you live in the Lake Whatcom watershed please choose one of the options listed above.

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Photo of Storm Drain Leaves

Help Prevent Flooding in Your Neighborhood


Fallen leaves can build up quickly at inlets to storm drain pipes and culverts, causing flooding during rain storms.  If you see a storm drain that is clogged and can clear it without placing yourself in danger, please help by using a rake to remove the leaves and disposing of them properly.  

To report a clogged storm drain or drainage problem on Whatcom County roads, call (360) 778-6400.
If You See Something, Say Something

Dumping yard waste in waterways such as ditches, creeks, or lakes is a violation of county, state, and federal laws.  Call (360) 778-6210 and select option #2 (Stormwater) to report illegal dumping.