Wallingford Compost Center Reopens March 16 with Seasonal Hours for Residents

The John Street facility is open to Wallingford residents only; hours expand in April to include Thursdays until 5 p.m.

PublishedMarch 13, 2026

The Wallingford Compost Center at 157 John Street will reopen Monday, March 16, 2026, following its winter closure, the town announced earlier this month. The facility, open exclusively to Wallingford residents, accepts yard waste and brush on a seasonal schedule that runs through November 30.

The compost center is operated under contract by We Care Denali, LLC. Residents with questions can call the facility directly at 475-270-4251, or contact the Town Public Works Office at 203-294-2105.

Wallingford Compost Center Hours by Season

March 16–31, 2026: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last vehicle will be admitted at 3:45 p.m.

April 1 – November 30, 2026: The schedule expands to more days but hours shift:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last entry 2:45 p.m.)
  • Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4:45 p.m.)
  • Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (last entry 1:45 p.m.)

The facility is closed on major holidays. Residents are advised to arrive before the last-entry cutoff, which is set 15 minutes before closing to ensure all vehicles are processed before the gates shut.

What Wallingford Residents Can Drop Off

The following items are accepted free of charge for Wallingford residents:

  • Brush measuring less than 6 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length
  • Leaves — must be in paper bags sealed with masking or painter's tape (plastic bags are not accepted)
  • Christmas trees that have been fully cleared of decorations

A fee applies for oversized tree limbs and logs beyond the standard dimensions.

Items that are NOT accepted at the compost center include: plastic bags, lumber, treated or painted wood, grass clippings, soil, garden waste, garbage, metal, concrete, tires, cardboard, rocks, and stumps.

Commercial landscapers and waste haulers are charged disposal fees and are not eligible for the free resident drop-off program.

About the Wallingford Compost Center

The compost center on John Street is part of Wallingford's broader recycling and waste management infrastructure, administered by the town's Public Works Department. The facility provides a dedicated outlet for organic yard material that would otherwise go to landfill, supporting the town's sustainability goals.

The seasonal schedule — closing in mid-January and reopening in mid-March — aligns with the natural rhythm of yard waste in New England, where outdoor debris accumulation drops sharply in winter. The expanded Thursday hours in the April–November period (until 5 p.m.) give working residents a weekday window to drop off material after typical business hours.

Wallingford, a town of roughly 44,000 residents in New Haven County, operates the compost facility as a free service for households. The arrangement with We Care Denali provides professional facility management under town oversight.

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