New Yard Waste Program Flourishes

The city's new Curbside Yard Waste Collection Program is growing like weeds.

The effort launched in March to help save space in the city landfill by recycling and reusing yard waste. So far, more than 1,600 yard wast cards have been given to city residents, according to Gabriel Gordo,Solid Waste Division Manager for the Watsonville.

"The program has been well received and we continue to receive a few requests daily," Gordo said in an email.

The Watsonville City Council approved the program in June 2012. Other areas of the county, including the unincorporated lands and the city of Santa Cruz, already offer yard debris collection.

In Watsonville, the yard waste is collected every other week and is then recycled and re-used as landscaping material.

There are a few rules for participation. First, people must live within city limits. Secondly, some types of yard debris are unacceptable. 

"Residents are doing a great job and we have very minimal amount of unacceptable materials in our loads," Gordo said. 

Accepted Yard Waste:

• Leaves    
• Grass clippings and weeds
• Shrubs     
• Plant trimmings
• Small tree parts
• Unpainted wood or lumber

• Palm          
• Cactus
• Bamboo     
• Poison oak
• Yucca        
• Root balls 
• Ice plant     
• Dirt and rocks
• Garbage     
• Plastic bags

For additional information on the Curbside Yard Waste Program, click here.