(Photo courtesy City of Tempe)

Most yard trimmings quality as "green organics." Big exceptions include oleanders and palm fronds.

Tempe is bringing the compost program curbside in some neighborhoods.

The city's Green Organics program collects tree trimmings and yard clippings from residents three times a year. It’s turned into compost, used at parks and given to residents for free. The compost program has turned more than 1,300 tons of green waste into compost this year. 

Still, Solid Waste Services Manager Steven Pietrzykowsky said the city estimated there was more they could do.

“We know 10-15 percent of our waste stream that ends up in the black container is compostable green waste.”

To decrease the amount of compostable material that ends up in landfills, Tempe is rolling out green-waste bins in several neighborhoods. Vegetation and livestock manure will be picked up weekly starting the first week December.

The pilot program will help the city decide if and how to expand curbside pickup.

“We want to look at Number 1, interest," Pietrzykowsky said. "We want to look at how clean the material we get can be.”

Green-waste bins should be free of food waste, plastic bags, palm fronds, oleanders and domestic pet waste.

The first green-waste can and pickup is free for residents in the pilot neighborhoods. Residents can sign up online or by calling 480-350-4311.