Actions are making a difference

It’s that time of the year again. It’s time to rake the lawn, cut back the hedges, and pick up branches that have broken off the trees in the yard over the winter. Now that all of that yard waste is gathered up, what should one do with it?
    In 2002, the City Council enacted an ordinance that requires all residents to keep their yard waste separate from all other solid waste. Yard waste consists primarily of leaves, grass clippings, lawn rakings, and brush smaller than one-half inch in diameter. Yard waste can be delivered to both the landfill and transfer station/recycling center and placed in its designated area. No permit or fee is required.
The same 2002 ordinance that banned the landfilling of yard waste also banned the landfilling of wood waste. Wood waste includes lumber, brush, tree branches, and any wood that is larger than one-half inch in diameter. Wood waste must be separated from all other waste such as household trash, construction debris, demolition debris, and yard waste. Wood waste can only be delivered to the landfill and does require a permit and disposal fee.
Yard waste and wood waste cannot be disposed with your household refuse. If you cannot transport your yard waste or wood waste to one of the facilities listed above, please contact your refuse hauler.
We have seen a big reduction over the last few years in the amount of wood and yard waste that is disposed of in the landfill, since the enactment of the ordinance. The ban on landfilling yard and wood waste has indeed produced a positive outcome by extending the life of the Presque Isle Landfill.
The city has produced a flyer that describes these requirements. The flyers are available from your refuse hauler, Presque Isle City Hall, Mapleton Town Office, Washburn Town Office, landfill, and the transfer station/recycling center. If your refuse is picked up by a licensed refuse collector, please contact them with any questions you may have regarding how they can handle these materials for you. You can also deliver these materials yourself to one of the city’s facilities for either recycling or composting.
We all know that it is difficult to change old ways and habits, but these changes in how we handle our solid waste are important to the longevity of our landfill, which is a valuable resource for the community. We thank you for supporting our composting and recycling programs. Your actions are making a difference.
    Dana Fowler is the Solid Waste Director for the City of Presque Isle. He can be contacted at 764-2507.