Options for Disposing of Leaves

Residents have several options to consider for leaf disposal, including hauling the leaves to a drop off site or compost site, having a waste service pick up the bagged leaves, engaging a lawn service to gather and dispose of the leaves, composting them on-site, or burning the leaves when dry, if located where burning is allowed.

City of Baxter Leaf Drop Off Site

The City of Baxter offers a leaf disposal site for Baxter residents.  

The City is excited to announce that it has a contract with Mike’s Tree Company, located at 5906 Pine Beach Road, to become the City’s official leaf disposal site. As of 2021, the disposal site will provide Baxter residents with the following benefits: 

• A residential year-round organic yard waste drop-off site for leaves, grass, straw, and lake weeds, free of charge.  

• For a fee, they will also accept brush, sticks, and logs. No treated lumber.  

During the summer, the site is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturdays from 8am to 12pm. During the winter, it’s open Monday through Thursday from 8am to 4pm and Fridays from 8am to 12pm. All residents must check in at the sales office each time and present a driver's license for proof of residency.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact the Mike’s Tree Company Sales Office at 218-825-8207 or email info@mikestreecompany.com.

Northland Arboretum

The Northland Arboretum, located on Conservation Drive, off of Excelsior Rd, accepts leaves from the public. The leaves are managed to produce compost which residents can later use for landscaping and gardening. The hours to drop off leaves can be obtained by contacting the Northland Arboretum at 218-829-8770

Crow Wing County Sanitary Landfill

The Crow Wing County Sanitary Landfill takes leaves, grass clippings, vegetative matter and brush at no cost. Transported leaves must either be bagged or covered with a tarp (Minnesota law). The landfill is open Monday – Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. There is no cost to residents for these yard wastes.

Commercial Waste Services

Residents can have bagged leaves picked up at the street by commercial waste haulers, eliminating the need to haul them to another location.  The following companies provide leaf pick up services in the City of Baxter: Blue Lakes Disposal (828-4558), Waste Partners (824-8727) and Nisswa Sanitation (963-4758).  Residents can contact these businesses for prices and to arrange to have their leaves picked up at the numbers provided.

Lawn Services

Lawn service businesses exist in the area which can be hired to gather and remove leaves from your property, eliminating all of the work.  These businesses can be contacted through local business directories.

Backyard Composting

An environmental-friendly means of managing yard wastes is by creating your own backyard compost pile.  This practice allows for the recycling of yard waste throughout the year, producing compost which can be used for gardening and landscaping mulch.  There are several sources of information on how to compost yard wastes, including University of Minnesota Extension Bulletin: Composting and Mulching, A Guide to Managing Organic Yard Waste.  This publication is a comprehensive guide for anyone wanting to learn about composting, building a compost area, and how composting works.  This bulletin (BU-03296) can be viewed at www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG3296.html#toc or can be obtained through the Crow Wing County Extension Office. 

Burning

The least preferred means of getting rid of leaves is burning them.  The burning of leaves generates smoke and odors, emits particulates into the air, and can pose a fire danger.  Each year the City receives comments from residents ranging from concerns about unattended fires, limited driving visibility because of smoke, being annoyed by smoke and odors, and suffering health complications associated with the airborne particulates.  These concerns have prompted the City Council to amend the open burning ordinance and only permit burning of leaves in limited areas. .