Free Fall Yard Waste Program in the Works

Town and Country residents could soon have a fall yard waste program in place.

Aldermen will soon be voting on whether or not to adopt a fall yard waste program for the that was developed by the city's Public Works and Stormwater Commission, Alderman Tim Welby and Town and Country Department of Public Works Director Craig Wilde.

Welby recently explained the proposal to aldermen and other city leaders at a board of aldermen meeting. He said that for 2012 the city had $50,000 for the branch clipping program and this plan is what he, Wilde, the commission and the city's waste haulers created as the best solution.

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Welby said while developing a yard waste program, it was important to incorporate the program into all four city wards at one time.

The way it will work is that there will be four free yard waste pick-up days in November, whether a resident already pays for yard waste service or not.

"If you don't have it now, you're going to get free yard waste service in November. If you do have it now, you're going to get credited for the month of November," Wilde said.

The service will be a combination of bags or bundles, dependent on the homeowners current waste hauler.

"It has to meet the current yard waste policy of the hauler," Wilde tells Patch.

Wilde is credited for utitlizing the city's current waste haulers Allied, Meridian and Waste Mangement as part of the program.

"I thought it was outstanding. Craig gets all the credit. He had the big thought," Welby said.

The waste haulers were on board with the proposal once it was presented to them.

"Nobody batted an eye at this program," Wilde said.

Town and Country Alderman Gussie Crawford said she thought it was a program that would please several residents.

Alderman Fred Meyland-Smith pointed out it is important to clarify to residents that this year's plan, if approved, is different than in years past.

"It is different than that in previous years, you can't drag out a 15 or 18 foot limb and put it in your yard. You have to cut it down," Meyland-Smith explained.

Aldermen will still have to vote to approve the program that would take place in November if passed.