Memo - Yard Waste and Brush ServicesPUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Copy: Rick Getschow, City Manager
From: Steven J. Stadler, Public Works Director — >i
Penny Cleve, Solid Waste Coordinator
Date: March 4, 2010
Subject: Yard Waste and Brush Services
The Public Works Department provides a variety of brush collection and yard waste services,
including free seasonal curbside pickup of yard waste and brush, drop -off services without user
fees and weekly curbside services with user fees: $2 /bag yard waste sticker and a volume -
based brush fee.
The cost of these programs are higher than the revenues received from the user fees charged
for yard waste bag stickers and brush pick ups. We have evaluated our current programs and
come up with three options that would continue to provide efficient, dependable service to our
residents, increase revenue and /or decrease costs to help offset actual cost of programs and
keep residents' costs below industry standards.
Brief Summary of Options
Option 1 is a continuation of our current system and shortens the length of time spring and fall
yard waste and brush is picked up curbside free.
Option 2 would require residents to call in to schedule yard waste pick up as they currently do
for brush and bulk pick up service. Collection would be changed to citywide collection on
Wednesdays. The length of time spring and fall yard waste and brush is picked up curbside for
free would be shortened.
Option 3 would be a voluntary limited subscription service with an annual fee for unlimited
curbside pick up of yard waste and brush from May through the week before the designated fall
free pick up weeks. Non subscriber services would be similar to Option 2.
All three options would require the following changes:
1. Yard waste will be placed in compostable bags
2. Yard waste and brush would be delivered to our city drop off site
3. Drop off site would be open an additional day (Monday, Wednesday & Saturday)
4. Shorten length of free seasonal curbside pickup services
Attachments
PROPOSED 2010 SPRING YARD WASTE AND BRUSH PICK UP
PROGRAM CHANGES
OPTION 1
BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2010 ALL YARD WASTE /LEAVES MUST BE PLACED IN
COMPOSTABLE BAGS (MN Statute 2008, section 115A.931)
ONLY CHANGES TO CURRENT PROCEDURE WOULD BE:
1. TYPE OF BAG USED AS STATED ABOVE.
2. ALL YARD WASTE AND BRUSH DELIVERED TO OURZROP OFF SITE
3. DROP OFF SITE OPEN MON., WED., AND SATURDAY "'.
.r
4. SHORTEN LENGTH OF SPRING & FALL FREE PICRTuPS
WEEKLY CURBSIDE YARD WASTE PICK UP
Yard waste bags picked up the same day as refuse
Stickers will need to be attached to the yard waste ,bags - sticker cost $2.00 per ba
Residents do not need to call in for pick up - driver drives complete daily refuse rOL
Residents call in weekly to schedule pi
Brush picked up every Tuesday
Charges are $8.00 (up to 5 cy), $20.00
SPRING FREE YARD WASTE PICK UP (Week of
Yard waste bags picked up the same,day as refusE
No stickers needed °`ys
Residents do not need to call in for pick up - driver:
$30.00 (per truck load)
M.
one week (2009 3 weeks)
complete daily refuse route
SPRING FREE BRUSH PICK UP (Tuesday, April 2G''& 27)
Residents call, into schedule pick up
Brush picked at no charge for two weeks (2009 3 weeks)
' ,
FALLFREE YARD WAS °TE. PICK UP (Street PU -Week of Nov. 8 - 12, Curbside PU
Yard v a to bags picked up same day as refuse for three weeks (2009 4 weeks)
No stickers, needed
Residents' o dot need to call " for pick up - driver drives complete daily refuse route
FALL FREE BRUSH,,
1� .y ^r'
Residents call in to"'sc
Brush pick up one Tu
;`pick up
only - late September
Yard Waste /Brush Drop Off Site (April 17)
Site opens same week curbside services begin (2009: May 2)
Site to be open one additional day (Mon, Wed, Sat)
Residents may continue to use plastic yard waste bags to deliver yard waste to drop off site -
material must be debagged and bags disposed of (suggest residents reuse plastic bags)
Site will close Saturday after last curbside pick up day (hours of operation will change with time
change)
PROPOSED 2010 SPRING YARD WASTE AND BRUSH PICK UP
PROGRAM CHANGES
OPTION 2
BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2010 ALL YARD WASTE /LEAVES MUST BE PLACED IN
COMPOSTABLE BAGS (MN Statute 2008, section 115A.931)
STICKERS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED. THE NUMBER OF BAGS PICKED UP PER HH WILL
BE NOTED ON THE ROUTE SHEET AND REPORTED TO UTILI BILLING FOR CHARGING
(AS WE CURRENTLY DO FOR BRUSH AND BULK PICK UPS)° r
Weekly Curbside Pick Up Changes
• Residents call in for weekly pick up of yard waste
Yard Waste pick up every Wednesday May, June,,July;'August, Sept,
• Residents call in weekly for pick up brush
Brush picked up every Tuesday
• Material collected is delivered to City drop off site'
Spring Free Pick up Changes sue.
• Residents not required to schedule free i "'lZ u `s
• Brush pick up reduced to two weeks (pre iousl - {
• Yard waste pick up reduced to one wee�C. prevM
is completed (2010 - May 5) During free week y4
• Material collected is delivered to City drop of 7site
Fall Free Pick Up Changes
• Residents not required to schedule free pick ups `
- starting in April (2010: April 20 & 27)
vks) -start week after free brush pick up
e picked up same day as refuse.
• Yard write '`" stfeet,pick up Nov. 8 - 12
• Yard ' s curb`sic eipick up reduced to three weeks (previously 4), starting after street leaf pick
up s completed (NoV4&.15 - Dec, 2) During free weeks, yd waste picked up same day as refuse.
• C ' rbside yard waste service ends with last day of free pick up
• Brush p ck up one day only.- late September
• Material ollected is delivered to City drop off site (See below)
Yard
• Site opens same week'curbside brush pick up begins in April (2010: April 17)
• Site to be open one; dditional day (Mon, Wed, Sat)
• Residents may continue to use plastic yard waste bags to deliver yard waste to drop off site -
material must be debagged and bags disposed of (suggest residents reuse plastic bags)
• Site will close Saturday after last curbside pick up day (2010: Dec 4) (hours of operation will
change with day light savings time change)
PROPOSED 2010 SPRING YARD WASTE AND BRUSH PICK UP
PROGRAM CHANGES
OPTION 3
LIMITED SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2010 ALL YARD WASTE /LEAVES MUST BE PLACED IN
COMPOSTABLE BAGS (MN Statute 2008, section 115A.931)
RESIDENTS WOULD PAY AN ANNUAL FEE OF $72 FOR WEEKLY UNLIMITED PICK UP OF
BAGGED YARD WASTE AND CURBSIDE BRUSH FROM MAY�T ;§JEE R UGH THE START OF
FALL SERVICES. CHRISTMAS TREE PICK UP WILL ALSO,.B F FOR SUBSCRIBERS.
A FEE OF $6.00 PER MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS WOULD BG A TO SUBSCRIBERS
UTILITY BILL.
WEEKLY CURBSIDE YARD WASTE PICK UP
• Yard waste bags picked up every Wednesday
• Residents do not need to call in for pick up or use stickers
Driver picks up from list of subscribers
WEEKLY CURBSIDE BRUSH PICK UP ��, --
Brush picked up every Tuesday
• Subscribers do not need to call in for'p ^ ick and there is no charge based on quantity
• Driver picks up from list of subscribers
.�
SPRING FREE YARD WASTE PICK UP
• Subscription service starts first week in May last'week in April depending on where days fall.
• No pickups prior, to designated start day.
SPRING FREE BRUSH PICK UP
•
Subscription-service starts first week in May last week in April depending on where days fall.
• No pi pno designated start day.
FALL,FREE YARD WASTE�PICK UP
• Then l ast week of subscription service will be the week before designated free pick up weeks.
• Yard aste street pick upz "Nov. 8 - 12
• Curbside yard waste pick: after street leaf pick up is completed. Nov. 15 - Dec 2.
During fred,eWeeks pick upQ ill take place the same day as refuse pick up.
FALL FREE BRUSH'S PICK UP
• No free brush pickup in the fall.
Yard Waste /Brush Drop Off Site
• Site opens same week curbside services begins (May 1)
• Site to be open one additional day (Mon, Wed, Sat)
• Residents may continue to use plastic yard waste bags to deliver yard waste to drop off site -
material must be debagged and bags disposed of (suggest residents reuse plastic bags)
• Site will close Saturday after last free curbside pick up day, Dec 4, (hours of operation will
change with day light savings time change)
NON SUBSCRIBER SERVICES
Non subscriber services procedures will be the same as Option 2.
Bagged Yard Waste charges for curbside pick up would increase to $3.00 per yard waste bag
Brush charges for curbside pick up would increase to $10 for up to
and $40.00 18 cy to 30 cy. y
No free spring brush or yard waste pick up.
Free fall pick ups will be the same as subscribers.
Yard Waste /Brush Drop Off site will be the same as for subs(
5.00 5cy up to 17 cy,
than those outlined above, window panes, oven proof glass (Pyrex), light bulbs,
mirrors, milk cartons, paint cans, aerosol cans, building materials, gray cardboard
(paper board), and any other materials that are not outlined in section 4.01.2.
4.02 Recycling Drop Off Center
1. The City provides a recycling drop off center as an extra service. The drop off is
. available to all residents and small businesses of Hopkins.
2. The drop off center is located at the City of Minnetonka's Operations and
Maintenance Facility at 11522 Minnetonka Boulevard.
3. Residents/businesses may drop off recyclable items 24 hours a day. The items
accepted at the drop off include newspapers, metal food cans, glass jars and bottles,
plastic PET and HDPE type, brown corrugated cardboard, and shiny, glossy
magazines and catalogs excluding those of newsprint quality and Reader's Digest
covers.
4. Materials are to be prepared as follows:
A. Newspapers -- Placed in brown paper bag or bundled with twine.
B. Glass jars and bottles -- Rinsed to remove remaining food substances. Lids and
rings removed. Labels do not need to be removed. Avoid breakage. Separated
by color.
C. Metal Food Cans -- Rinsed to remove remaining food substances.
D. Brown Corrugated Cardboard -- Flattened.
E. Plastic -- Rinsed to remove remaining food/detergent substances. Labels do not
need to be removed. Flattened.
F. Magazines -- Only Loose, shiny, glossy magazines and catalogs are accepted.
Magazines should not be bagged, bundled or tied.
G. Cereal, Cake, Chip and Cracker boxes. Remove food and liner, flatten. These
boxes should be placed in the same container as magazines and catalogs.
H. Refer to collection contract for the most up to date information regarding
materials accepted.
5. BRUSH PICK UP
5.01 The City provides brush pick up free (City Service Area ONLY) on a call in basis from
mid -April through mid -May and on the first Friday in September. During all other
Fridays a fee per pick -up is charged. Fees are established by Council Resolution.
5.02 BRUSH DEFINITION: Tree limbs and branches up to a maximum of 6 inch diameter
and 20 foot length... includes twigs and other tree parts within size definition.
5.03 Brush is picked up from the boulevard side of the residence ONLY due to height
restrictions for equipment in alleys.
Legislative Policy Manual -- Chapter 8 -13
5.04 Brush must be stacked on the boulevard in a neat pile, parallel to the street. Small twigs
can be placed in cardboard boxes, but not in plastic bags. Keep brush far enough away
from containers (4 feet) to allow regular automated pick up. Keep brush at least 5 feet
away from utility poles and parked cars. Do not pile brush under trees and shrubs,
behind fences or under overhead wires.
5.05 Normally, brush pick up is completed every Friday except for holidays and during un-
usual conditions such as snowstorms.
5.06 Calls are taken through Thursday before 2:00 p.m. for scheduled pick up that Friday.
5.07 State Law prohibits mixing brush in the same container with regular household waste.
DO NOT put brush in your refuse container.
5.08 Only brush that is generated on Hopkins properties will be picked up. Brush from land
clearing operations will not be accepted.
6. BRUSH AND YARD WASTE DROP OFF
6.01 The city provides a free Brush and Yard Waste drop off from mid -May through the 2nd
Saturday in November on Wednesday evenings from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and on
Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
6.02 All material brought to the site must be separated according to brush and yard waste
definitions in sections 5.02 and 7.04 and all material must have been generated within
the city of Hopkins boundaries.
6.03 Materials will not be accepted from lawn services.
7. SPRING /SUMMER YARD WASTE PROGRAM
7.01 The City provides a free Yard Waste Pick Up (City Service Area) in the Spring from the
third Monday in April through the second Friday in May.
7.02 A per bag fee is charged during the non -free pick -up periods from the third Monday in
May through the end of September. Stickers will be sold and must be affixed to each
bag as payment for pick up during this time period. Stickers may be obtained by
stopping at City Hall or Public Works. They may also be obtained by calling Public
Works, and requesting that they be mailed out, and the cost placed on the utility bill.
7.03 A City crew picks up yard Waste with a rear load refuse truck on the same day as
regular refuse pick -up in the city service area.
7.04 YARD WASTE DEFINITION: Leaves (with twig stems - no longer than 4 inches),
grass clippings and similar garden waste will be accepted. Items not accepted include:
No animal feces (please clean up after pets before raking your lawn), branches, vines,
long twigs, sod waste, shrub clippings, and no garden products such as melons,
pumpkin, squash, potatoes, apples, tomatoes, etc. Place unused garden products, such
as these, into your regular refuse container.
Legislative Policy Manual -- Chapter 8 -D
7.05 Yard Waste must be bagged or in a 30 gallon or smaller container (maximum size bag -
55 gallon; maximum weight -40 lbs.) and placed at the normal refuse container
collection site. Keep Yard Waste materials far enough away (4 feet) to allow regular
automated pick up.
7.06 State Law prohibits mixing yard waste in the same container with regular household
waste. DO NOT put yard waste in your refuse container.
8. FALL LEAF/YARD WASTE COLLECTION
8.01 Area 1 - Belgrove, Hobby Acres, Park Ridge, Interlachen Park
The City provides street pick -up of leaves /yard waste in the Belgove Hobby Acres, Park
Ridge, and Interlachen Park areas using front -end loaders and dump trucks. This is
done because of: the amount and type of trees in these areas; the cooperation of the
neighborhood associations; and the cost savings to the City due to the large
concentrations of leaves in these areas. Pick -ups in these areas are generally scheduled
for the last week in October. Residents of these areas are encouraged to place all leaves
at the curb area and avoid bagging due to this clean-up procedure.
Residents in these areas are charged a per bag fee for bags generated in the fall through
the second week of November. Stickers will be sold and must be affixed to each bag as
payment for pick up during this time period. Stickers may be obtained by stopping at
City Hall or Public Works. They may also be obtained by calling Public Works, and
requesting that they be mailed out, and the cost placed on the utility bill.
Yard Waste must be bagged or in a 30 gallon or smaller container (maximum size bag -
55 gallon; maximum weight -40 lbs.) and placed at the normal refuse container
collection site. Keep Yard Waste materials far enough away (4 feet) to allow regular
automated pick up.
State Law prohibits mixing yard waste in the same container with regular household
waste. DO NOT put yard waste in your refuse container.
8.02 Area 2 - All other areas of the City Service Area
The city provides free Fall leaf /yard waste pick up during the month of October only.
A per bag fee is charged during the non -free pick -up period through the second week of
November. Stickers will be sold and must be affixed to each bag as payment for pick
up during this time period. Stickers may be obtained by stopping at City Hall or Public
Works. They may also be obtained by calling Public Works, and requesting that they be
mailed out, and the cost placed on the utility bill.
Yard Waste Definition: See section 7.04.
Legislative Policy Manual -- Chapter 8 -13 8
Leaves must be bagged, or in a 30 gallon or smaller container (maximum size bag -55
gallon; maximum weight -40 lbs.) and placed at the normal refuse container collection
site (leaf/yard waste bags, etc., must be a minimum of 4 feet from the refuse container).
Weather conditions may delay the pick up and/or cause changes in the scheduling. All
efforts will be made to complete the pick up as scheduled.
A City crew picks up yard Waste with a rear load refuse truck on the same day as
regular refuse pick -up in the defined area.
YARD WASTE DEFINITION: See Section 7.04.
Yard Waste must be bagged or in a 30 gallon or smaller container (maximum size bag -
55 gallon; maximum weight -40 lbs.) and placed at the normal refuse container
collection site. Keep Yard Waste materials far enough away (4 feet) to allow regular
automated pick up.
State Law prohibits mixing yard waste in the same container with regular household
waste. DO NOT put yard waste in your refuse container.
9. CHRISTMAS TREE PICK UP
9.01 The City provides (City Wide) pick up of Christmas Trees as a general budgeted
expense.
Established 8/18/87
Revised 7/1/97
City of Hopkins
Legislative Policy Manual -- Chapter 8 -D 9