Sioux Falls opens leaf, branch drop sites

Starting on your yard cleanup for fall? The city is ready for your leaves.

Leaf and branch drop-off sites will remain open through Nov. 30.

The sites are free for residents to use and are available to residents living in Sioux Falls and the five-county region served by the Sioux Falls Regional Landfill, including Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha and Turner counties.

The two sites are located at North Lyon Boulevard, near the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds, and Chambers Street, near the city’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Both sites are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“Fall is here, and we’re glad to offer this service again to help Sioux Falls residents clean up their yards and take care of their leaves,” said Don Kuper, superintendent of the Sioux Falls Regional Landfill.

The sites are for residential use only. Cars, pickups, full-size SUVs, vans and trailers are accepted. Loads from lawn service companies and commercial businesses will not be accepted and must go directly to the landfill. All loads must be secured with a tarp or transported in an enclosed vehicle.

Branches and leaves must be placed in separate piles, and on-site signage indicates where to unload each material. All materials must be removed from plastic bags, but paper bags are acceptable. Plastic bags, stumps, rubble and household garbage are not accepted.

Discarded branches are ground and repurposed, while leaves are composted. Residents can pick up compost for free year-round at the landfill and at the seasonal drop sites while they are open. Compost is available first come, first served, and residents must collect and carry their own compost.

Residents of Sioux Falls and the five-county region the landfill serves have a free annual pass. To receive it, show your driver’s license or state ID at the landfill. Households receive one free pass per year that resets every Jan. 1. Visit siouxfalls.gov/landfill for program details.

The landfill is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The landfill no longer observes special hours for Daylight Saving Time.

Here’s the holiday schedule:

• Native American Day, Oct. 13, open normal hours.
• Veterans Day, Nov. 11, open normal hours.
• Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, closed.
• Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, closed at 1 p.m.
• Christmas, Dec. 25, closed.
• New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, closed.