Leaf Collection and Compost

Leaf Collection and Disposal Programs

Manchester operates a state of the art composting program. Leaves are prohibited by State law and local ordinance from going into the Landfill. Several different leaf collection and disposal options are available to Manchester residents. Information on purchasing leaf compost is also available at the bottom of this page.

Bagged Collection:

Leaves must be placed in Yardwaste Paper Bags and placed at the curb on your regularly scheduled refuse collection day. This service operates for 10 months of the year, beginning on the 3rd Monday in March and finishing on Friday of the 2nd full week the following January. Leaves will not be collected in plastic bags or any other type of container besides brown paper yard waste bags. See below for locations of where Paper Bags are sold to residents directly by the Town. You are also welcome to use any yard waste bag sold locally in retail stores.

Paper Leaf Bags Sale Locations and 2022-2023 Pricing Information:

30 gallon Leaf bags are available for purchase at $0.40 each and in bundles of 5, 25, & 50.

Leaf bags are available for sale year-round at the Landfill Scale House - Sanitation Office Building (311 Olcott Street, follow signs to office)

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 7:15 AM to 2:30 PM

And also at Town Hall - Customer Service Center located at 41 Center Street, Mon.-Fri. 8:30-5pm, for more information please call 860-647-5235.

Transfer Station and After Hours Drop-Off:

Leaves can be dropped at the Transfer Station at no charge to Manchester residents year round during normal transfer station hours (Tues - Sat. 7:15 am to 2:30 pm). Leaves can also be dropped off after hours (3:00 pm to dusk) at the 263 Olcott Street leaf collection site from October 11th to December 31st of each year. Leaves which are dropped off must be loose or in paper bags. NO PLASTIC BAGS - they cause contamination to the compost!

Vacuum Collection:

The Town performs a one-time around pass with Leaf Vacuuming trucks to remove loose piles of leaves from the curb. Historically, collection starts at the end of October/ in early November. This operation is handled and managed by the Town's Highway Department. Please click here for more information on the Town's Vacuum Leaf collection that is performed during the Fall months, or call 860-647-3233.

Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale!

Compost

Through the miracle of Mother Nature (and with a little help from the employees in the Sanitation Division), leaves are turned into rich, organic compost in 3-6 months. Temperature and moisture are the two main factors that determine how quickly the leafy materials break down. Compost is a great mulch for flower beds and gardens and can also be used as a soil amendment. Compost is available for sale at the Landfill at 311 Olcott Street.

Compost is available for sale during the hours of 7:15 - 2:30, Tuesday through Saturday.

Compost is FREE for all Manchester Residents.

Manchester residents may pick-up free compost at the transfer station by showing proof of Manchester residency (Driver's License). Compost pick-up is self-service, you will need to bring your own containers, gloves & shovel. 

For non Manchester residents, the rates for compost are based on container or truck size.
$1.00 per 30 gallons approximately the size of a trash can/paper leaf bag.
$10.00 for small pickup truck load – 6ft.
$15.00 for large pickup truck load -- 8ft.

It’s self-serve; you will need a shovel or a way of loading your receptacle.

Grass Clippings

Grass can be bagged and collected at the curb as part of the bagged yardwaste collection program, which runs from Mid-March through the following mid-January, for 10 months each year. Bags cannot exceed 40 pounds per bag.

Mulching Mowers are now widely available. These mowers have a special blade which re-cuts the clippings into tiny pieces which will decompose right in your lawn. This process helps to retain moisture in the lawn and return nutrients to the ground. These mowers reduce the need for fertilizers and watering, while saving you time which might have been spent raking and bagging the clippings.

Backyard composting is a good solution for grass. Home composting units are available from hardware stores, lawn and garden centers, and mail order catalogs, or you can easily construct a unit yourself. Grass, garden and yard waste, and organic kitchen waste are all compostable in your own backyard. By next growing season, you will have your own source of compost for your gardens.

Garden Mulching is another good use for grass from your lawn. Placing a thin layer of mowed grass between the rows in you garden or around plants and shrubs will help to retain moisture, reduce fertilizer requirements, and reduce weeds.

When Spring arrives and lawn mowing begins, try some of these alternatives. They'll help your gardens and lawns.