How To Properly Dispose of Leaves this Fall

November 3, 2014 0 Comments

Fall is the peak yard waste season each year, so the City of Columbus has some friendly reminders on proper ways to dispose of leaves, branches, twigs and grass clippings:

Yard waste must be put in biodegradable bags or rigid containers with the words “YARD WASTE” on the container’s side. Yard waste placed in plastic bags is not allowed.
Bags are generally available for purchase at home improvement or grocery retail stores
Plastic bags cannot be used to line paper bags or rigid containers
Yard waste cannot be mixed with regular trash or with recycling in the blue 64-gallon recycling carts
Rumpke collects yard waste on the same day as recycling every other week
Do not rake leaves into the street, gutters and storm sewer catch basins. Leaves can clog storm sewers and cause flooding on streets when it rains.
Cut branches should be no more than four feet in length and bundled with string or twine. Each bundle should be no more than two feet wide.

Yard waste includes organic waste generated during regular household gardening and landscaping activities, including:

Grass clippings
Leaves
Twigs
Branches
Shrubbery

Items that will not be collected with yard waste:

Rocks
Dirt
Plastic bags
Food waste

Recycling yard waste is green and saves tax dollars:

It saves tax dollars that would have otherwise been needed to dump yard waste at the landfill (NOTE: Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio rules prohibit the City of Columbus or others from knowingly dumping yard waste at the Franklin County Landfill)
Extends the life of the County landfill
Recycled yard waste can be composted and used in home gardens and landscaping to beautify our homes and neighborhoods

Residents can contact the city’s 311 Customer Service Center at 645-3111 to find out which day of the week is their yard waste and recycling collection day. In addition to bi-weekly collections by Rumpke, Columbus residents can dispose of their yard waste at any one of 10 free yard-waste drop-off locations (please call ahead for hours of operation):

Com-Til, the City’s compost facility: 7000 Jackson Pike, Columbus (614) 645-3152
Kurtz Bros. and Mulch Manufacturing Inc.: Residents may be asked to show proof that they are a Columbus or Franklin County resident.

2850 Rohr Road, Groveport (Kurtz Bros.); (614) 491-0868

6055-C Westerville Road, Westerville (Kurtz Bros.); (614) 882-0200

6279 Houchard Road, Dublin (Kurtz Bros.); (614) 873-2000

6747 Taylor Road S.W. (Mulch Manufacturing, Inc.); (614) 864-4004

Ohio Mulch: Please be prepared with a driver’s license or some form of documentation identifying you as a Columbus resident, otherwise you will be charged

4120 Roberts Road, Columbus (Ohio Mulch); (614) 921-9330

4665 Westerville Rd. (Ohio Mulch); (614) 891-3242

1600 Universal Rd. (Ohio Mulch); (614) 445-4455

2541 Harrisburg Pike (Ohio Mulch); (614) 594-0270

537 Reynoldsburg-New Albany Rd. (Ohio Mulch); (614) 863-0445