City Issues Reminder On Proper Disposal Of Fall Leaves

Press release from the City of Joliet:

Fall colors in the Midwest are expected to peak this upcoming weekend. However, what is up must come down and the City of Joliet would like to remind residents of a few guidelines related to fallen leaves and other seasonal yard waste.

Residents are encouraged to dispose of leaves utilizing the yard waste guidelines provided by Waste Management. To summarize, yard waste must be placed in 30 gallon kraft paper bags or a rigid container no greater 32 gallons and clearly marked as yard waste. Free labels are available at City Hall or Joliet Jewel locations.

Pushing leaves into the street is a hazardous and a fineable offense. The presence of leaves in the street and on the parkway can close off catch basins and cause drainage problems, as well as increasing the chance of vehicular and pedestrian accidents on slippery leaf-covered streets. City street sweepers will not pass over or pick up large piles of leaves and will avoid them, resulting in uncleared streets.

While the use of commercial fire pits is allowed within City limits, the fire pit must meet predetermined criteria, listed below. It can be tempting to burn leaves as a means of disposal but please remember that leaves, wooden pallets, treated lumber and garbage are not to be used as fuel in an outdoor fire pit. Open burning (burning any fuel without the use of an approved fire pit) is prohibited.

More information about these topics can be found on the Roadways Division and Garbage & Recycling pages of the City website. The last week for yard waste pick up is December 7-11, 2020.

FIRE PIT CRITERIA
The Joliet Fire Department would like to remind residents the criteria for using a commercial fire pit within the city limits.

• Commercially sold steel outdoor fire pits that are on legs attached to a steel bottom, wire mesh sides and a top are approved.
• A fire extinguisher or garden hose must be available to extinguish the fire, if necessary.
• Approved outdoor pits shall be not less than 15 feet away from a structure of fence.
• Fuel (wooden logs or artificial logs) shall fit inside the confines of the wire mesh, and the top shall be in place to be legal. Wooden pallets, treated deck wood, leaves, dimensional lumber, or garbage shall not be used as fuel in an outdoor fire pit.
• Be aware that although it is legal to burn in an approved outdoor fire pit, if it is believed to be offensive or objectionable by the complainant due to smoke, flames, sparks, or odor omissions, then the homeowner shall extinguish the fire immediately. In addition, a police officer on the scene may issue a compliance ticket to the homeowner for creating a public nuisance or being in violation of the International Fire Code 2015 Section 307.4.3 “Prohibited Open Burning” which states: “Open burning that will be offensive or objectionable because of smoke or odor emissions when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous shall be prohibited. The fire code official is authorizes to order the extinguishment by the homeowner or the fire department of open burning which creates or adds to a hazardous or objectionable situation.”

This press release was produced by the City of Joliet. The views expressed here are the author’s own.