Landfills are a significant contributor to environmental challenges, emitting harmful greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide as organic waste decomposes without oxygen. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 30% of landfill material consists of food and yard waste—valuable resources that could be diverted for composting. Composting not only enriches soil and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers but also mitigates the environmental impact of waste disposal by minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
Yard Waste
The City of Norman recycles yard waste and produces compost which is free to Norman Residents if you load it yourself. If it is loaded for you, there is a $10.00 per scoop loading fee (a scoop is approximately 3 cubic yards or 2,000 pounds). Norman Residents must provide a current City of Norman Utility bill.
Materials accepted: leaves, grass clippings and limbs (no longer than 4 ft. lengths and 2 inches in diameter). All contaminated loads (paper, rocks, bricks, and trash) will be rejected. You must be a Norman resident in order to dispose of yard waste for free. Commercial businesses are allowed to dispose of yard waste at a fee of $20 per truck/trailer load.
Learn more about our Compost Facility here.
To find your collection day, view our interactive Residential Sanitation Collection Maps and click on "Yard Waste Pick-up Day".
Composting at Work
The City of Norman is proud to partner with Fertile Ground to provide composting services at break rooms throughout the Development Center and City Hall! In recent years, composting has gained momentum in workplace cultures as organizations increasingly integrate sustainability into their daily operations. Composting in the workplace fosters employee engagement, enhances corporate responsibility, and sets a strong example for sustainable practices. By implementing composting, workplaces can significantly reduce their waste footprint and contribute to a healthier planet while encouraging a more eco-conscious organizational culture. Launching in Spring 2025, this program will divert food scraps, coffee grounds, and paper towels from landfills, transforming them into a valuable resource for composting.
Food Waste
The City of Norman is partnering with Fertile Ground to support their Community Food Scrap Drop-off Program. The Program is funded by the USDA/NIFA Grant awarded to the Association of Oklahoma Governments (ACOG). Fertile Ground Cooperative is the sub-awardee of this grant. It is a two-year pilot program and is free to the residents of Central Oklahoma.
Norman has two drop-off locations at:
Norman Recycling Center, 3001 E. Alameda
Gray Owl Coffee Shop, 223 E. Gray Street
To participate, individuals should watch a quick tutorial video online and complete a quiz to receive a combination code for drop-off at: Community Composting Drop-Off — Fertile Ground. QR codes on drop-off bins can also be scanned on-site to see the video and complete the quiz. All types of food will be accepted but must be placed in bio bags or paper bags for drop off within the bins.