Summer 2008 Leaves, Grass and Yard Waste Schedule

The drop-off for yard waste at the Municipal Garage at 211 South Street will be open from 8:30 to 11:30 on the following Saturdays: 

• May 31
• Jun 14       
• Jun 28
• Jul 12
• Jul 26
• Aug 9           
• Aug 23
• Sept 6
• Sept 20
• Oct 4
  

Brush must be no larger than three inches in diameter and cut into four foot lengths.

Dirt, sod, stumps, rocks, stones, sand and bricks are unacceptable.
Do not leave any bags at the drop-off when it is closed.

There will be four curbside collections in the fall. Dates to be announced.

Acceptable Material for Drop-Off: Grass clippings, leaves, small brush, trimmings from evergreens, cuttings from vegetable and flower gardens are accepted, up to 3" in diameter and 4' long.

Unacceptable Material for Drop-Off: Rocks and stones, stumps, street sweepings and sod, fence materials, landscape timbers, tree limbs, branches greater than 3 inces in diameter, logs.

Unacceptable materials left on this site are a danger to our equipment and operators. Do not leave any unacceptable waste. The drop-off site is provided for Shrewsbury residents only. Identification may be required at the gate. No landscapers or commercial waste haulers are allowed to use the site.

HOW TO HANDLE YARD WASTE

Yard waste represents approximately 17% by volume of the total solid waste generated in the town.

In 1994, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection banned the disposal of yard waste at landfills and burn facilities to conserve the limited solid waste disposal capacity in the state for more difficult to manage waste. The town delivers the following services for yard waste: Curbside collections are provided during three weeks in the Spring and four weeks in the Fall each year. The collections follow the same route schedule as rubbish collections. Yard waste put out for collection during these weeks must be in 30 gallon paper bags. The bags may be left open at the top and filled to the top. There is no limit on the number of bags of yard waste put out at any residential location.

Bags must be lined up within two feet of the curb and out by 7:00 A.M. on the collection day.

Bags of yard waste must weigh no more than 40 lbs. Do not grind or shred leaves before bagging. This results in over weight bags. Do not put road sand, sod, rocks or stones in the bags. These materials will damage the equipment used to turn the leaves into compost.

Branches and small limbs (no more than one inch in diameter) that are free of leaves may be cut into four foot lengths and bundled together and put out with the trash. Branches and small limbs with leaves may be cut into four foot lengths, tied into bundles, and set out next to the yard waste bags for collection.

The best way to handle lawn clippings is to leave them on the grass. The lawn clippings reduce the need to water the lawn and reduce the amount of fertilizer needed to feed the lawn. Leaving the clippings on the grass also eliminates the need to dispose of the clippings.

The Highway Department opens a drop-off facility for leaves, grass and yard waste at the Municipal Garage, 211 South Street, from 8:30 to 11:30 every other Saturday starting in late June and continuing through September each year.

Dates for the curbside collection and the drop-off schedule are advertised on the town's homepage and on Cable Channel 15.

BACKYARD COMPOSTING

The Shrewsbury Health Department supports backyard composting as a clean and simple way to get rid of leaves and grass clippings. Many of us are wondering what to do with all the yard waste we have at this time of year. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection banned the disposal of leaves, yard waste and grass clippings at landfills or incinerators because these materials are easily converted into compost, a usable and beneficial product, and the disposal capacity we have in this state is needed for handling other waste which can not be composted. Residents are reminded that it is against state law to burn leaves or to dump yard waste into wetlands, streams or ponds.

Yard waste makes up an astounding 18% of typical household waste. Did you know that this material can be turned into an organic product that can help lawns and gardens survive droughts? Yard waste isn’t trash, it’s a resource. There are several options for managing it that are easy, good for the environment and great for your yard.