Grass Clipping Policy

10 pounds of fresh grass clippings contains one gallon of water.  This is the main reason since 2013 why the city does not service grass clippings to the landfill.  Throwing away water in the trash is not being environmental friendly and is a waste of our tax dollars.  

An easy way to reduce the amount of yard waste that winds up in landfills is by grass cycling. This practice of leaving your grass clippings on the lawn has benefits which include a healthier looking lawn and saving time.  Proper mowing is the key to grass cycling: cut your grass 1/3 of the length of the grass blade at one time. Your grass should be dry and your mower blades sharp. In the fast growing season, you may have to cut every four to seven days, but in the slower growing season you might only need to cut your lawn every 7 to 14 days.  When properly clipped, grass decomposes quickly and releases nutrients back into the soil. Grass cycling also greatly reduces the need for fertilizer because grass clippings return nitrogen to the soil.  Cutting grass shorter and more frequently deprives your lawn’s root system of nutrients and moisture. Longer grass blades create more shade, provide the soil protection from the sun and even help squeeze out weeds.  If you use a landscape service to maintain your property, grass cycling will save the company time because there are no clippings that require collection and disposal. Encourage your landscaper to grass cycle!  Golf courses, park systems and school districts all practice grass cycling!

If you do not have room on your property to compost, drop your yard waste clippings off for free at Portage Street Department Site location during operational hours.  A YARD PASS is required.  Please do not mix grass clippings with other materials such as leaves, trash, dirt, small rocks, etc.  You are required to empty the contents of all bags or containers in the correct bin.  If you need assistance with emptying materials, we have staff that will assist you.  Thank you again for being environmental friendly.  Please email us at PSD@portage-in.com for further information.