PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
Solid Waste Operations, 2400 Theresa Street, Lincoln, NE 68521, 441-7043, fax 441-8735
Date: March 27, 2008
For More Information: Gene Hanlon, Recycling Coordinator, 441-7043
Steve Hatten, President, Lincoln Solid Waste Management Association, 475-8360
Separation of Grass and Leaves Begins April 1
Beginning Tuesday, 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. Individuals can subscribe to a separate collection of grass and leaves provided by local waste haulers. There is a separate fee for this collection service.
If individuals don't wish to have their grass clippings and leaves collected separately by their hauler, they have three options:
- Haul grass and leaves to the 48th Street Transfer Station.
- Hire a lawn service.
- Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves. The University of Nebraska Lancaster County Extension Office will provide a series of backyard composting workshops in April and May.
This is the 15th year of the composting program in Lincoln. Since 1992, City officials estimate that Lincoln has diverted more than 210,364 tons of grass and leaves and 97,962 tons of tree trimmings from the landfill. To date, the composting program and annual wood-grinding operation has added two years to the life of the landfill. If the City stopped its composting and wood waste diversion program today, the landfill would close in the year 2026 instead of the current projection of 2029.
Steve Hatten, President of the Lincoln Solid Waste Management Association, said people who subscribe to the special collection of grass and leaves must separate the material after the last waste collection in March. "Grass and leaves must be in approved containers," Hatten said. "This includes paper lawn bags that are available at area retailers, a 32-gallon waste container with a tight-fitting lid, or a 90-gallon container provided by the waste hauler. People who use plastic trash bags for their yard waste will run the risk of having the material left at the curb."
The City does not allow grass and leaves to be placed in plastic bags because they do not decompose and cause litter problems at the City's compost operation.
City Recycling Coordinator Gene Hanlon said that the City conducts inspections of loads coming to 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 clean-up fee. Hatten said this cost may be passed on to the property owner who mixed grass and leaves with the household trash.
Hanlon also said that with the start of spring, people can obtain wood chips and LinGro compost from the City. If self-loaded, the LinGro compost is available at no cost at the 48th Street Transfer Station, 5101 N. 48th Street. To obtain more information on the City's composting program or the availability of compost and wood chips, contact the City of Lincoln Recycling Office at 441-8215 or see the City Web site at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: compost).
