Yard waste hopper and method of using the same

The invention relates to lawn tractors, and more specifically to a hopper mounted on a lawn tractor for the collection of yard waste. A hopper for a lawn tractor. The hopper includes a plurality of walls. The walls together define an interior space and an opening communicating with the interior space. A door is movably coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls and is movable between a closed position, in which the door substantially covers the opening, and an open position, in which, the opening is at least partially uncovered. A sweep assembly is movable within the interior space when the door is moved between the closed and open positions. Preferably, the sweep assembly includes a frame coupled to the door and a sweep coupled to the frame. The sweep is preferably a flexible member that engages at least one of the plurality of walls. Preferably, the hopper also includes a latching mechanism coupled to the at least one of the plurality of walls.