Yard waste rules on the North Shore are weirdly inconsistent. The same pile of branches that's fine in Beverly might get rejected in Salem; the same paper bag accepted in Marblehead might be too big for Swampscott pickup. Here's the working cheat sheet.
Marblehead
The Marblehead Department of Public Works runs seasonal yard waste collection from April through November. Key rules:
- Paper bags only. Plastic bags are not accepted, in line with MassDEP rules.
- Brush and branches must be bundled and tied with biodegradable twine.
- Soil cores and lawn aeration debris can be left on the lawn to decompose naturally, or brought to the transfer station in paper bags.
- For questions: Marblehead DPW, 80 Commercial Street, (781) 631-1750.
Salem
Salem has a transfer station at 12 Swampscott Road, open during the yard waste season (April through mid-December):
- Saturdays 7 AM – 3 PM, Sundays 9 AM – 5 PM during the season.
- Residents must show proof of ID.
- Yard waste must be in paper bags or dumped loose in the designated area. Plastic bags are not accepted.
- Branches greater than 2 inches in diameter are not accepted. Larger limbs need a private hauler.
- Cardboard recycling (flattened, clean, dry) is accepted at the same site.
Beverly
Beverly runs curbside yard waste collection through the city's contracted hauler:
- Paper yard waste bags only — plastic bags rejected.
- Brush bundled, tied with biodegradable twine.
- Yard waste cannot be put curbside earlier than 18 hours before pickup day.
- For larger volumes (full landscape cleanups, tree removal aftermath): Beverly directs residents to private haulers — the city does not handle cleanouts.
Swampscott
Swampscott handles yard waste through its DPW with seasonal curbside pickup:
- Paper bags only, biodegradable twine for bundled brush.
- Schedule announced annually — typically running spring through late fall.
- For specific dates each year, check the Swampscott DPW website or call town hall.
What about the big stuff?
Across all four towns, there are clear limits on what curbside yard waste collection will handle:
- Tree stumps: Not accepted curbside anywhere. Stump grinding or removal requires a private service.
- Branches over 2–3 inches in diameter: Generally not accepted; need to be processed into firewood or hauled by a private service.
- Sod removal: Old sod and dirt are considered fill, not yard waste. Most haulers can take it; municipal collection cannot.
- Construction debris (treated lumber, plywood, lattice, fence pieces) is not yard waste even though it looks like it.
The fastest way to lose a Saturday
Drive a load of yard waste to a transfer station, get rejected because something in the pile doesn't qualify, drive back home, separate it, and try again. Not theoretical — happens weekly. If you have anything borderline in the load, call ahead.
If it's too much
For most homeowners, yard waste is manageable on the routine schedule — until it isn't. After a major storm, a fall cleanup, a landscape redesign, or a tree removal, the volume exceeds what curbside pickup can handle. That's when a private hauler is worth the money. We handle yard waste removal and know exactly what each town accepts. Get a quote here.