Yard waste pickup planned in May

Mayor Linda Gorton’s office issued this press release today about another special yard waste pickup:

The City is once again planning to provide curbside residential yard waste pickup this month to its waste management customers.

On Wednesday, May 13, crews will pick up yard waste for everyone who has City garbage pickup on Mondays and Tuesdays. Residents who have city collections on Thursdays and Fridays will have their yard waste picked up on Wednesday, May 20.

The City temporarily halted curbside residential yard waste pickup on March 23 to protect City Waste Management employees, who also pick up garbage, a service that is critical to the community.

“We have reviewed our supply of personal protective equipment and are happy to let residents know that we have adequate inventory to schedule a second yard waste pickup this spring,” says Nancy Albright, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works. “We appreciate that, over the years, many citizens have taken to heart the program that diverts yard waste from the landfill. To the extent that we can support that program while protecting our Waste Management employees from COVID-19, we are pleased to continue to offer collection services.

Until routine yard waste collections resume, residents have several disposal options:

  • Hold material until collection resumes.
  • Grass clippings can be left on your lawn and late-falling leaves can be mulched with a mower and left on the ground. Both grass and mulched leaves help naturally fertilize your lawn.
  • Start a compost pile. It’s probably easier than you think. The same materials that would go in your yard waste bin are great for compost piles. You can even add plant-based food scraps like coffee grounds, banana peels and apple cores. (No meat, cheeses or fatty foods.)
  • Take the material to the Haley Pike Waste Management Facility at 4216 Hedger Lane. Hours for Haley Pike are 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. No limit and no charge for Fayette Co. residents during the collection suspension. ID required.
  • Put material in your green trash cart. Make sure to limit the material — the lid to your trash cart should close when you set it out for collection.