Separation of Grass and Leaves

PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
Solid Waste Operations, 2400 Theresa Street, Lincoln, NE 68521, 441-7043, fax 441-8735

Date:	March 23, 2009
For More Information:	Gene Hanlon, Recycling Coordinator, 441-7043 Steve Hatten, Solid Waste Management Association, 475-8630

Separation of Grass and Leaves Begins Last Week in March

Beginning Wednesday, April 1, waste haulers will collect grass and leaves separately from household trash. State law requires that residents separate grass and leaves from household trash from April 1 through November 30 each year. In order for waste haulers to comply with this requirement on April 1, residents who subscribe to separate yard waste collection must begin to separate grass and leaves from their household trash after their last waste collection in March.

The separate collection of grass and leaves is provided by local waste haulers for a fee. Those who do not subscribe to the special collection have three options:

1. Haul grass and leaves to the 48th Street Transfer Station.
2. Hire a lawn service.
3. Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves. The University of Nebraska Lancaster County Extension Office will provide backyard composting workshops in April and May.

This is the 17th year of the yard waste composting program in Lincoln. Since the fall of 1992, City officials estimate that Lincoln has diverted more than 224,148 tons of grass and leaves and 103,126 tons of tree trimmings from the landfill. To date, the composting program and annual wood recycling operation have added more than two years to the life of the landfill. This represents close to 1.2 million cubic yards of landfill space that has a current value of $9.7 million. If the City stopped its composting and wood waste diversion program today, it is projected that the landfill would close in 2030 instead of the scheduled year of 2034.

Steve Hatten, President of the Lincoln Solid Waste Management Association, said grass and leaves must be separated in approved containers. That includes paper yard waste bags available from retailers; 32-gallon waste containers with tight-fitting lids; and 90-gallon containers provided by the waste haulers.

City policy does not allow grass and leaves in plastic bags at the compost facility because the bags do not decompose and cause litter problems. Hatten said some waste haulers will empty the plastic bags, so residents wanting to use plastic should contact their haulers to determine how they manage the bags.

City Recycling Coordinator Gene Hanlon said that the City inspects incoming loads at the Bluff Road Landfill and composting site. If household trash is found mixed with grass and leaves, the City can assess the haulers a $50 fine. Hatten said waste haulers may leave containers at the curb if they contain household trash mixed with grass and leaves.

Hanlon also said wood chips and LinGro compost are now available from the City. If self-loaded, the LinGro compost is available at the 48th Street Transfer Station at no cost. For more information on the City's composting program or the availability of compost and wood chips, contact the City Recycling Office at 441-8215 or see the City Web site at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: compost).