Spring Leaf, Brush Drop-off Begins April 1 in Minnetonka

If you live in the city of Minnetonka, you can drop brush and leaves off at city facilities beginning April 1.

Brush Drop-off

The regular brush drop-off program for Minnetonka residents opens Monday, April 1.

On Monday and Tuesday the site is open from noon to 8 p.m. On Saturdays, the site is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The brush drop-off site will be closed on the following holidays in 2013: Memorial Day, May 27, and Labor Day, Sept. 2. Brush drop-off will end Nov. 17, 2013.

Branches up to 12″ in diameter will be accepted. This service is available only to Minnetonka residents. Proof of Minnetonka residency is required to drop-off brush (driver’s license or utility bill). No brush will be accepted from commercial tree or lawn services.

Please note: Trash, metal, plastics, concrete, lumber, fences or wood scraps are not accepted. Do not bring these materials with your load of brush.

Do not put grass, loose leaves, dirt or sod in with the brush pile. Loose leaves, pine needles, straw, plant and garden materials go in the separate leaf drop-off area. The brush drop-off and leaf drop-off programs have different processing methods and distinct end markets for the different materials, so it’s important they stay separate.

For information about composting and yard waste management, call 952-988-8430, during business hours or leave a message anytime.

Leaf Drop-off

The Public Works facility at 11522 Minnetonka Blvd (¼ mi. west of Cty. Rd. 73) accepts leaves and yard waste from Minnetonka residents. Enter on the west side of the building (near the Big Willow ball fields).

During the busiest times, there will be expanded drop-off days. In addition to the normal operating schedule, the site will be open on Friday, May 3 and 10, from 12–6 p.m., and Sunday, May 5 and 12, from 12–4 p.m.

If you have other means of handling your leaves such as collection by your garbage hauler or backyard composting, please use that option. All garbage haulers offer curbside collection of yard waste for a fee (either an annual, monthly, per cart or per bag fee). The garbage hauler yardwaste collection programs typically run mid-April through the end of November. Check with your garbage hauler for details. State law requires proper compostable bags for curbside collection of bagged yardwaste—regular plastic bags are not allowed. Some companies offer yard waste carts, eliminating the need for bags.

Leaves standard dates and times

Mondays: 12–8 p.m.

The city leaf drop-off site is “bag free.” Residents will unload and/or unbag their leaves and yardwaste onto the large bulk pile and take all empty bags home for reuse or disposal—including paper and compostable bags. Please bring proper equipment, like a stout pitch fork, to unload your truck or trailer load of leaves.

The suggested method is to use many layers of tarps between layers of about a foot of leaves. Use a tarp to gather up and move a small pile of leaves from your yard to your trailer or vehicle. Continue using lots of small tarp loads, layering the leaves and tarps until the vehicle is full. This makes unloading your leaves easier and faster at the site. All you need to do is flip off the tarps between the layers of leaves.

Sticks and branches smaller than ½ inch in diameter are acceptable with leaves; anything larger goes to the brush pile. For further details on brush, please see the brush drop-off page. Loads of leaves must be covered during transport.