Maize Morse Tri Area Civic Assc.

CITY OF COLUMBUS YARD WASTE POLICY

By Dick Graham, Our Community Liaison

You may combine up to 15 bags of yard waste with neighbors for Rumpke to pick up at one address.  Click here for the information on  the City of Columbus website and to get the Rumpke order form. 

$49.50 for 6 months with 5 neighbors is only $9.90!

Question:  Will the City pick up my yard waste? 

ANSWER:   I  contacted a refuse supervisor to clarify the yard waste policy.  Bulk Pick-up did pick up Christmas trees that are called into 645-3111 or  to www.columbus.gov  He also told me that all other decisions on yard waste are in the "planning stages."  The policy is the same as it has been since the City stopped picking it up. It is to be taken to one of the sites listed below.  I will monitor the matter and alert the citizens of any changes.   Residents should use one of the several yard waste drop off facilities.  I would recommend that residents call ahead to inquire into the facilities requirements and limitations.   Some facilities may not accept the larger tree limbs.  Check the local newspapers and our website for updates on the policy.  The residents can drop off yard waste free at the following locations: 

¡  Com-Til: The city of Columbus' compost facility at 7000 Jackson Pike on the South Side accepts tree limbs.  -   645-3152 or 645-3153 

¡   Kurtz Bros. Inc.: Accepts leaves, grass clippings, small branches and Christmas trees from Franklin County homeowners at:

¨ 6055-C Westerville Rd. -  882-0200 

¨ 6279 Houchard Rd., Dublin. -  873-2000

¡   Ohio Mulch: 

¨ Takes yard waste free at 4120 Roberts Rd. -  921-9330

accepts yard waste for a $12 drop off fee per load unless you use Ohio Mulch's 's lawn and leaf bags.
(You can get them at any Ohio Mulch facility) and at the following locations:

¨ 4665 Westerville Rd. (Northeast) - 891-3242 

¨ 7320 Industrial Parkway, Plain City  - 733-3994  

     The above is the plan unless and until City Council passes the proposed agreement with Rumpke. If so, residents will be able to use a private contractor or use Rumpke for a fee of $49.50 per month. Please see below. 

 City Proposing Voluntary Weekly Yard-Waste Subscription Program

(Columbus) The Columbus Department of Public Service is recommending a new yard-waste subscription program for weekly residential collection. Faced with budget challenges, Columbus was unable to renew its $4 million contract in February with Rumpke of Ohio Inc. for weekly citywide service. But with approval from Columbus City Council, the department set aside funds in hopes of determining a way to offer a limited yard-waste program.

The department is now recommending an allocation of up to $1 million to Rumpke so the company can provide collection services at a relatively low cost to residents. Residents would pay Rumpke $49.50 for six months of weekly subsription service, which breaks down to $1.90 a week.

"Our residents asked us to find a way to offer some type of yard-waste service," Public Service Director Mark Kelsey said. "The subscription service we are proposing is the best viable option."

Kelsey said Public Service considered two other options: providing service to each of the 230,000 households once in the spring and once in the fall, or providing no service.

"We received phone calls and emails from about 1,000 residents, and it was clear from what we heard that limited collections would not adequately serve our residents," Kelsey said, "and no collections were unacceptable."

Residents would have the option of signing up for six months-renewable for another six months-or for one year of service. Rumpke would collect up to 15 bags, containers or bundles of yard waste each week from subscribers. Rumpke is prepared to begin offering the service in mid-to-late April.

Kelsey said subscription service would satisfy four main concerns:

• It would meet the publics' demand for weekly collections.
• It would further the city's green agenda since yard waste is recyclable.
• It would save the City money in tipping fees by keeping yard waste out of the Franklin County Landfill.
• It would handle limbs and other debris left on residential property after wind storms.

Councilmember Hearcel Craig has scheduled a public hearing on the yard waste-collection proposal at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, in City Council Chambers. The full Council is expected to vote on the proposal the following Monday, April 6.