Can I Put Leaves, Branches, and Yard Waste in a Dumpster in Sioux Falls?

What can go in the dumpster

Green waste and yard waste are accepted. That includes leaves, branches, brush, and sod. The same 20-yard container also takes mixed household debris and construction debris from the same cleanup, such as old fence boards, a rotten deck skirt, or bagged junk from the garage.

Hazardous waste is not accepted. Paint, chemicals, solvents, and batteries stay out of the load. If you are unsure about an item, check what can't go in a dumpster or call or text (605) 937-5430 before you load it.

What a fall cleanup costs

The published 20-yard prices are the rental. Delivery and pickup are included within 15 miles of Sioux Falls, and 1 ton of debris is included. The included ton is the total weight at pickup, not a daily allowance.

• 24 hours: $300
• 3-day dumpster rental: $330
• 7-day dumpster rental: $390

Extra weight is $50 per ton, prorated, from the landfill scale ticket. Extra days are $15 per day. Delivery beyond 15 miles of Sioux Falls is $3 per mile. Sales tax applies. A weekend leaf job often fits the 3-day rental. A full yard, hedge, and sod project usually needs the 7-day rental so you are not paying extra days. Full rates are on Sioux Falls dumpster rental pricing, and every line is on the dumpster rental fees page.

How heavy leaves, branches, and sod get

General guidance, not a scale ticket. Loose yard waste on our size guide is about 200 to 400 pounds per cubic yard. A 20-yard box holds 20 cubic yards, so a full loose load is about 2 to 4 tons. The rental includes 1 ton, so that full loose load is about 1 to 3 extra tons, or about $50 to $150, before the rental price.

Dry branches are bulky and often sit toward the lighter end of that range. Wet leaves pack down and weigh more than the same pile did when it was dry. Sod is heavier again because it carries soil. A cubic yard of soil is about 2,000 to 2,500 pounds, so a few yards of sod can use up the included ton by themselves.

The maximum weight for a 20-yard dumpster is 7.5 tons. At the loose-yard range, a full box stays under that cap. A box loaded mostly with wet leaves or sod can climb faster. The landfill scale ticket is the number on the bill, not this estimate.

A 7-day rental at $390 plus 2 extra tons is about $490 before any distance fee. That is $390 plus 2 times $50. Use it as planning math for a heavy yard, then get an exact quote for your address.

City leaf drop sites, and when a dumpster makes more sense

Sioux Falls runs seasonal leaf and branch drop sites. They typically close in late fall. Check siouxfalls.gov for dates. Those sites are a fit for a few pickup loads of loose leaves and branches while they are open.

A dumpster is the better fit when the pile is bigger than a few truck runs, when the sites are closed, or when the same load includes fence boards, sod, and household debris. You do not have to sort a fall cleanup into separate trips if it all belongs in the container.

Where the dumpster sits

On your own driveway in Sioux Falls, you do not need a city permit. If the dumpster has to sit on a city street for more than 24 hours, you need a street permit. The rules and the $15 city fee are on the dumpster permit page. Tell us about a tight driveway when you book. The truck needs about 22 feet of straight clearance.

How to keep the weight down

Let leaves dry before you load them if the weather allows. Cut branches so they lie flat instead of bridging across the box. Put sod in last, and stop if the box is getting dense before it looks full. Mix lighter brush with heavier sod instead of filling the whole container with soil.

If the job runs past the rental you booked, extra days are $15. Call or text (605) 937-5430 before the scheduled pickup.