Composting in Hamilton County, Indiana
Last Updated: August 2026
Composting is a useful way to keep food scraps, leaves and other organic material out of the trash, but Hamilton County doesn’t operate a general compost drop-off at its Household Hazardous Waste Center.
Depending on what you’re trying to compost, options include composting at home, Fishers’ residential food-scrap compost program, or using a private yard-waste facility.
Quick Answer
The Hamilton County Household Hazardous Waste Center and General Recycling Area do NOT accept grass clippings or yard waste. The county directs residents with yard waste to GreenCycle in Noblesville or recommends checking with their city or another private service.
Fishers residents have another option for food scraps: the Fishers AgriPark Compost Program provides participating households with a free 3-gallon compost bin and compostable liners, with food-scrap drop-off available at the AgriPark.
Food Scrap Composting
Fishers AgriPark Compost Program
Fishers residents can participate in a free community composting program through Fishers AgriPark.
The program provides one free 3-gallon composting bin and 10 compostable liners per Fishers household, while supplies last. Residents can then bring qualifying food scraps to the compost collection bin at the AgriPark.
Fishers AgriPark
11171 Florida Road
Fishers, IN
Compost can currently be dropped off anytime in the designated large compost bin in the AgriPark parking lot. Food scraps must be contained in approved compostable liners bearing the BPI logo; ordinary plastic bags aren’t permitted.
→ View Fishers AgriPark Compost Program
What Can Go in Food-Scrap Compost?
The Fishers program describes compostable material as organic waste commonly left after preparing food, including items such as:
- Fruit and vegetable peels
- Produce cores
- Appropriate garden waste
- Shells
- Other qualifying organic food-preparation waste
The Fishers program has specific rules about what can go into its collection bin, so check the current program information before adding something you’re unsure about.
→ Check Fishers Compost Guidelines
Yard Waste & Composting
Grass clippings, leaves, branches and other yard debris aren’t accepted at Hamilton County’s HHW Drop-Off Center or General Recycling Area.
Hamilton County currently directs residents with grass clippings and yard waste to:
GreenCycle
2695 Cicero Road
Noblesville, IN 46060
317-773-3350
Because this is a private facility, check its current accepted materials, hours and fees before loading up your vehicle.
Composting at Home
You don’t necessarily need a drop-off program to compost.
A backyard compost pile or bin can turn many household and yard materials into usable organic material for gardens and landscaping.
Common home-compost ingredients include:
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds
- Dry leaves
- Grass clippings
- Plant trimmings
- Eggshells
- Small amounts of untreated plant material
A healthy compost pile generally needs a mixture of moist nitrogen-rich materials and dry carbon-rich materials, along with air and moisture.
Leaves are particularly useful because they can be saved and mixed with food scraps or fresh grass throughout the year.
What Should Stay Out of a Home Compost Pile?
For a basic backyard compost pile, it’s generally best to avoid:
- Meat and fish
- Bones
- Dairy products
- Fats and oils
- Pet waste
- Diseased plants
- Chemically treated materials
- Plastic
- Glass
- Metal
- Glossy or coated materials
These materials can cause odor, attract animals, introduce pathogens or simply won’t break down appropriately.
Leaves & Grass Clippings
Before hauling leaves or grass away, consider whether you can reuse them on your own property.
Grasscycling — leaving finely cut grass clippings on the lawn — can return nutrients to the soil.
Leaves can also be:
- Mulched with a mower
- Added to a compost pile
- Used as garden mulch
- Saved as dry material for future composting
Hamilton County water-quality materials specifically encourage residents to rake, bag, mulch or compost leaves and yard waste rather than allowing them to enter storm drains and waterways.
Before You Go
Before hauling food scraps or yard waste somewhere:
- Identify what kind of material you have.
- Don’t take yard waste to the Hamilton County HHW Center.
- Check private facilities for current hours and fees.
- Fishers residents should check the current AgriPark compost-program rules.
- Don’t use ordinary plastic bags for the Fishers compost drop-off.
- Keep trash and non-compostable materials out of compost.
- Check your city’s yard-waste services if you have large amounts of leaves, brush or branches.
If you have branches, brush or a large quantity of landscaping debris, the Yard Waste guide may be more useful than the food-composting options on this page.
Local Tips
Don’t take yard waste to the county recycling center. Hamilton County specifically lists grass clippings and yard waste among the materials it doesn’t accept there.
Fishers residents have a particularly good food-scrap option. The AgriPark compost program is free for residents and provides a small collection bin and liners while supplies last.
Save some fall leaves. Dry leaves are excellent “brown” material for balancing wetter food scraps and grass in a home compost pile.
Keep leaves out of storm drains. Even though they’re natural, large amounts of decomposing leaves and grass can negatively affect local waterways.
Check city services for seasonal programs. Leaf and yard-waste collection options can differ between Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield and other Hamilton County communities.
Don’t confuse composting with recycling. Food scraps, leaves and grass don’t belong in Hamilton County’s ordinary recycling compactors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hamilton County have a compost drop-off?
Hamilton County’s HHW Center and General Recycling Area do not accept grass clippings or yard waste. The county directs residents to local city services or private facilities such as GreenCycle.
Where can I take yard waste in Hamilton County?
Hamilton County currently lists GreenCycle at 2695 Cicero Road in Noblesville as an option for grass clippings and yard waste. Check with the facility before visiting for current requirements and fees.
Does Fishers have a compost program?
Yes. Fishers offers a free residential compost program through Fishers AgriPark. Participating households can receive a small compost bin and approved liners and use the AgriPark compost drop-off.
→ View Fishers Compost Program
Can I compost at home?
Yes. Many food scraps, leaves, grass clippings and garden materials can be composted at home and eventually reused as organic material in gardens and landscaping.
Can I put food scraps in my recycling bin?
No. Food scraps shouldn’t be placed in ordinary curbside recycling or Hamilton County’s General Recycling Area compactors.
Can I take leaves to the Hamilton County HHW Center?
No. Yard waste isn’t accepted there. Check your city’s seasonal collection options or use an appropriate private yard-waste facility.
Can I compost meat and dairy at home?
For a typical backyard compost pile, it’s usually better to leave out meat, dairy, fats and similar foods because they can create odors and attract animals.
Related Pages
Official Resources
Fishers AgriPark Compost Program
Free food-scrap composting program for Fishers residents, including compost-bin pickup and drop-off information.
→ View Fishers Compost Program
Hamilton County Materials Accepted
Official county guidance showing which materials are and aren’t accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Center.
→ View Hamilton County Materials Accepted
Hamilton County General Recycling Area
Official information about the county recycling facility and materials accepted there.
→ Visit Hamilton County General Recycling Area
Summary
Hamilton County doesn’t accept grass clippings or yard waste at its Household Hazardous Waste Center or General Recycling Area. Residents can compost appropriate materials at home, use private yard-waste services such as GreenCycle, or check their city for local collection options.
Fishers residents also have access to a free food-scrap composting program through Fishers AgriPark, providing an especially convenient option for keeping kitchen scraps out of household trash.