Yard Waste

Nahant Street Yard Waste Site

The yard-waste site opens for the season on April 6.  View the 2024 schedule (2 pages).

The Nahant Street yard waste 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 18, November 9, and November 23, 2024
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 and Scrap Metal at the Yardwaste Site

Cardboard
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.

Scrap Metal
Residents can also bring metal items, including wire hangers, pots and pans, folding chairs, golf clubs, and metal shelving, to the site during operating hours and dispose of them responsibly in the dedicated metal-recycling dumpster. This free service is available at the Nahant Street Yard Waste site; no permit is needed to participate.

Items that can be accepted include:

  • Ferrous metals like steel and iron
  • Nonferrous metal like copper and aluminum
  • Metal hand tools and tool boxes
  • Metal rakes
  • Metal wire
  • Old kitchenware, including metal pots, pans, and utensils
  • Metal piping/gutters
  • Metal furniture, including desks, folding chairs, and stools
  • Car rims (no tires)
  • Sporting goods, including aluminum bats and golf clubs
  • Metal shelving/brackets
  • Metal coat hangers
  • Gas grills (propane tank removed)
  • Clean soda cans

Residents cannot drop off ammunition/explosive material; lead, batteries; tires; mercury; paints (cans or spray); aerosol cans; items containing oil, gas, antifreeze, or freon; appliances, including air conditioners; or light bulbs.