Most questions I receive concern the proper pre-collection preparation of yard waste, leaves, and building materials. Recently, questions have risen on how to prepare items that are hard to classify. One question that has been asked is - what is the difference between the proper pre-collection preparation of yard waste and building materials?

 

Yard waste includes all the plant material generated from your lawn area such as grass clippings, leaves, trees and shrubbery trimmings less than 12-inches in length – all of which must be placed into clear plastic or biodegradable paper bags. When placing limbs by the curb they must be less than 12 inches in diameter and no longer than 6 feet long and stacked neatly at the curb so as not to obstruct the sidewalk or the roadway, nor create an unsafe condition to the traveling public. No yard waste should ever be placed in your roll out cart. Place all yard waste 6 feet away from parked vehicles, utility poles, and other structures, and away from low overhead lines or low hanging tree limbs. This helps the truck by allowing vertical clearance for the knuckle boom to safely operate when picking up limbs.

 

A personal container can be used for yard waste in lieu of the clear plastic bags. You must paint the words “yard waste” on the side of the container and place it at the curb leaving the lid off unless it is raining. City crews may drain any liquids in your container onto your lawn before placing your yard waste into the collection truck, so it is important to keep your personal container free of liquids. Using a personal container does allow you to avoid the expense of purchasing clear or biodegradable paper bags. However, you place your container at the curb at your own risk. If it is stolen or damaged, the City will not replace your personal container.

 

What do I do with items that were used in my yard or garden such as railroad ties, a fence, or building materials? What type of building materials will be picked up by the curb?

 

Doors, plumbing materials, sheetrock, asbestos free roofing shingles, plaster, plywood, windows (with glass taped) nails, asbestos free floor covering, carpeting/padding (rolled, tied, no longer than 6 feet, cannot weigh over 75 pounds). Windows and doors with glass must have the glass taped. The homeowner is responsible to secure broken glass so that no jagged edges are exposed; broken or unsecured glass will not be collected.

 

All lumber (including, boards, any wood used in trim of any size, wood used for fences) should be no longer than 4 feet in length. Remove all the nails from the materials or bend them flush with the wood surface to protect the collector.

 

Nails, brads, staples, screws, and other sharp fasteners placed out for disposal should be contained in a small sealed cardboard box, a coffee can with a lid, or a plastic jar with a lid weighing no more than 5 pounds each. This precaution will protect the collector from possible injury from the sharp end of these fasteners.

If you place these materials in bags or small boxes, they can not weigh more than 35 pounds each. Your personal container filled with yard waste cannot weigh over 75 pounds when filled. Volumes larger than 10 cubic yards must be scheduled for disposal by the homeowner.

 

Things we cannot pickup include concrete, dirt, stumps, asbestos insulation, roofing shingles or floor covering that contain asbestos, brick, blocks, automobile engines, transmissions or parts, and other vehicle components. The concrete or brick pavers used in your yard will not be picked up. Also railroad ties, telephone poles, and other wood products that have been treated with toxic preservatives will not be picked up at the curb.

 

If you have questions concerning how to place items by the curb, what will be picked up, or just want to make sure you are following the right procedures, call the customer care center at 704-920-5555.