CITY LAUNCHES CURBSIDE YARD WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM

(Yard Waste Collection to Begin MAY 1ST)

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Frederick, MD ---- In an effort to divert recyclable waste, on January 17, 2006, the Frederick County Board of Commissioners enacted Ordinance 06-03-399 which no longer allows yard waste to be disposed of in the refuse disposal area of the Frederick County Landfill. As a result, the City added yard waste to its list of restricted items for refuse collection. Yard waste may no longer be combined with regular trash and must be disposed of separately. In response to this change, the City of Frederick established a new curbside yard waste collection program for all but commercial customers, as defined in Section 10-1 of the Frederick Municipal Code. The City’s Yard Waste Collection Program provides for the separate collection of yard waste as defined below. Yard Waste Collection will begin in the City of Frederick on May 1, 2007.

Items which may be set out for collection include: weeds, leaves, plants (no grass clippings), bushes and branches less than six inches in diameter and less than seven feet in length.

Items which may not be set out for collection include: grass, edible products from any garden, yard, lawn, or landscaped area; all tree/shrub waste over six inches in diameter or seven feet in length; pavement, soil, sod or rocks.

Yard waste items set out for collection shall be placed next to the public curbs in front of your property, adjacent to waste enclosures serviced by the City, or alongside designated public alleys. Items may be set out for collection using up to 35 gallon capacity trash cans, or Kraft paper bags (large brown paper bags designed to dispose of yard waste-can be purchased at local home improvement, hardware, or department stores, and some grocery stores). Plastic bags are not allowed. No items or containers weighing over 50 pounds will be collected. Loose items such as leaves, branches, trimmings, weeds, flowers, must be in containers, Kraft bags or bundled with biodegradable twine or string. Place items a minimum of three feet away from automated trash collection carts.

Yard waste should be set out after 5 PM on the day preceding the scheduled Yard Waste Collection Day, and all containers must be removed by 7 PM on the day of collection. Yard waste shall be collected twice a month from May through November, 4 AM to Noon, Monday through Friday, exclusive of the holidays observed by the Frederick County Landfill.

Your yard waste collection schedule corresponds with your Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) area, see collection schedule below. If you need to find what NAC area you live in, visit www.cityoffrederick.com, or contact the City’s Community Outreach Coordinator at 301-600-1384. Yard waste must be set out prior to 4 AM on the dates listed below. HOLIDAYS: If your collection day falls on an observed holiday, yard waste should not be set out for collection until your next regularly scheduled yard waste collection day.

Yard Waste Collection Schedule

NAC Area 1: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of Each Month

NAC Area 3: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of Each Month

NAC Area 4: 1st and 3rd Friday of Each Month

NAC Area 5: 2nd and 4th Friday of Each Month

NAC Area 6: 2nd and 4th Monday of Each Month

NAC Area 7: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of Each Month

NAC Area 8: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of Each Month

NAC Area 9: 1st and 3rd Monday of Each Month

NAC Area 10: 1st and 3rd Thursday of Each Month

NAC Areas 11 & 12: 2nd and 4th Thursday of Each Month

To view the entire Yard Waste Collection Policy visit www.cityoffrederick.com or call 301-600-1680.

The following is a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding this new program:

How did this change come about?

In an effort to divert waste, on January 17, 2006, the Frederick County Board of County Commissioners enacted a new Yard Waste Disposal Ordinance; effective May 1, 2006, yard waste disposal was eliminated in the refuse disposal area of the County Landfill. (County Ordinance 06-03-399). As a result, beginning May 1, 2006, the City of Frederick no longer collects yard waste along with the regular municipal solid waste. In response to these changes, the City of Frederick has established a new curbside yard waste collection program for all but commercial customers, as defined in Section 10-1 of the City Code.

What yard waste can I set out?

Weeds, leaves, plants (no grass clippings), bushes, and branches less than six inches in diameter and less than seven feet in length.

What materials can NOT be set out?

Grass; edible products from any garden, yard, lawn or landscaped area; all tree/shrub waste over six inches in diameter or seven feet in length; pavement; soil; sod; or rocks.

What Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) am I in?

Visit www.cityoffrederick.com, or contact Stephanie Davis, community outreach coordinator, at 301-600-1384.

How do I set out tree limbs and brush?

Brush and tree limbs must be cut into lengths not exceeding seven feet. Items must be bundled or tied with biodegradable twine or string and the bundles shall not weigh more than 25 pounds.

What containers may be used?

Up to 35 gallon containers and kraft paper bags not exceeding 50 pounds will be collected. Plastic bags are not allowed. No items over 50 lbs will be collected. Loose items such as leaves, branches, trimmings, weeds, flowers must be in containers, kraft bags or bundled with biodegradable twine or string (no wire, plastics, or nylon string). Bags shall be sealed with biodegradable twine or string only.

Does this change affect the City’s annual Leaf and Christmas Tree recycling programs?

The City will continue to collect leaves from early November through early December. Visit www.cityoffredrick.com , or call 301-600-1680 for details. The City will also continue to provide drop off locations in late December through January for Christmas trees. Visit www.cityoffredrick.com , or call 301-600-1173 for details.

Are other disposal options available?

· Grasscycling and Backyard Composting

· Dispose of yard waste at County Yard Trimmings and Mulch Sites: Walkersville Heritage Farm Park or the Reichs Ford Road Recycling Center.

· For information on Grasscycling, Composting, or these sites, contact the Frederick County Office of Recycling at 301-600-2960, or visit the County’s website at www.co.frederick.md.us.

· Private waste haulers, check your local phone directory under the headings of Trucking – Light Hauling, or Landscaping, etc. for a list of service providers

Why are grass clippings NOT collected?

The City banned grass clipping from regular trash collection in 2002, and has also banned it from the Yard Waste Collection Program. Environmental Reasons – Grass clippings are biodegradable; combining them with garbage is a waste of valuable disposal site space. Grass decomposes in landfills, generating methane gas and acidic runoff. Economic Reasons – recycling of clippings on your yard saves the homeowner by reducing the need to fertilize and saves money by not having to collect and dispose of them.

Do I have to bag clippings for a nice lawn?

Recycling of your grass clippings is referred to as “Grasscycling”; it is an economic and environmentally friendly solution. When done properly it will provide a healthy and aesthetically-pleasing yard.

Instead of raking and bagging clippings you simply leave the grass clippings on the lawn when you mow, where they release nutrients and organic matter into the soil. Grass clippings are made up of 90% water and contain a large amount of nitrogen. Clippings break down naturally in the soil and grass.

Grasscycling reduces your yard maintenance time and reduces the amount of fertilizer you have been using. For more details visit www.co.frederick.md.us or call 301-600-2960.

Where can I find the entire City policy?

To view the entire Yard Waste Collection Policy, visit www.cityoffrederick.com or call 301-600-1680.