Houseplants and Cut Flowers: Usually Yes. Large Yard Waste: Often Separate.

Most food scrap drop-off programs accept houseplants, cut flowers, and small plant trimmings. Large quantities of yard waste (grass clippings, branches, leaves) often need to go to a separate yard waste drop-off — check your local public works department for those programs.

What Plant Material Is Generally Accepted

  • Dead or living houseplants (including potting soil at many sites)
  • Cut flowers and floral arrangements (remove plastic or foam florist materials)
  • Small plant trimmings from indoor herbs and houseplants
  • Small amounts of yard trimmings at many sites
  • Loose leaves in small quantities

What Typically Needs to Go to a Yard Waste Program

  • Large quantities of grass clippings
  • Bags of leaves
  • Tree branches and large woody material
  • Brush and shrub trimmings in bulk

Most municipalities run separate yard waste drop-off programs (often at transfer stations) that operate independently from food scrap programs. Check your city or county public works website for yard waste drop-off locations.

Specific Program Rules

NYC's smart bins accept "house plants and flowers" explicitly. NYC community garden drop-offs also accept yard waste and houseplants. Chicago's program does not accept yard waste. Portland OR's curbside system accepts all yard waste with food scraps. Check your specific program's accepted materials list for definitive guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many programs accept potting soil as part of a houseplant drop-off, but not all. Remove any synthetic or non-degradable materials (plastic pots, decorative stones, synthetic fertilizer stakes) before dropping off. If you're unsure about potting soil, empty the plant from its pot, shake off excess soil, and bring just the plant matter.
No — cut flowers from a store are organic material that composts like any plant matter. Remove the plastic wrap, plastic sleeves, foam water tubes, twist ties, and any non-plant elements. The bare flowers and stems can go in most food scrap compost bins.