Yard Waste

Nahant Street Yard Waste Site

The yard-waste site will open for the 2023 season on April 1. View the schedule here (2 pages). The Nahant Street yardwaste is available for the disposal of leaves, grass, clippings, shrubs, and brush on scheduled dates throughout the season. A permit is required to obtain access and is available to Wakefield residents only. Permits can be obtained at the DPW office at Town Hall during regular business hours or purchased online. Proof of Wakefield residency is required at the time of purchase. Permits must be renewed annually at a cost of $25. 

Commercial vehicles, trucks over ½ ton, and landscaping companies are not permitted at the Nahant Street Site. All yard waste brought to the Nahant Street site must be covered during travel. All leaves brought in plastic bags must be emptied. Bags must be removed from the site by the owner.

Grass clippings, leaves and plant prunings can pollute Wakefield’s lakes and streams when washed directly into storm drains.  Proper disposal and composting of yard waste keeps our Town’s natural resources healthy.   

Curbside Leaf Collection

May 13, November 4, and November 18
Yard waste must be curbside prior to 7 a.m. in biodegradable paper bags or barrels. Plastic bags cannot be collected. Please cut branches into 3’ lengths or less and tie in bundles no more than 18” in diameter.

Cardboard Disposal Option at the Yardwaste Site

Are the shipping boxes from your online deliveries overwhelming your recycling pile? Feel free to drop off your clean, dry corrugated cardboard at the Nahant Street yardwaste site (“the Pit”). A disposal container is available to residents when the yardwaste site is open, and no permit is required to use it.  This disposal container is different than residential curbside recycling bins in that this will not be sent to a sorting facility; the container will be for corrugated cardboard only. Corrugated board contains the extra layer of fiber that zig-zags between the brown sheets, making it tougher to tear and sturdier for shipping. Please do not use this service for cereal boxes, shoeboxes, pizza boxes, or other paper products. A load free of contamination will allow the Town to sell the cardboard and cover the costs of the service.

Those taking advantage of the disposal site should only bring dry, flattened corrugated cardboard that is free of Styrofoam, peanuts, plastic wrap, or bubble wrap. Tape and labels on a box are acceptable, though it should be free from oil and grease.