Yard waste receives second chance at life

Yard waste can no longer be commingled with household waste.

Private haulers begin curbside recycling April 1

Towns and homeowners across Sussex County are establishing new ways to dispose of grass clippings, tree branches, leaves and other debris.

Since the new regulations banning commingling of yard waste and household trash, residents have three options – compost the materials, contract with a waste hauler for pickup or take the materials to a drop-off location. Towns are looking at contracting with haulers for yard waste from residents within town limits, but those in unincorporated Sussex will have to make their own plans. What follows is a guide to yard waste disposal.

Unincorporated Sussex

Michael Parkowski of Delaware Solid Waste Authority said residents living outside town limits can compost yard waste, contract with a private waste hauler to pick it up or they can travel to transfer stations, collection sites or other composting sites to drop off the material.

“In Sussex County there is a transfer station on Route 5 and also one in Milford. Plus residents can take yard waste to all DSWA facilities,” Parkowski said. “It must be separated.”

At the transfer stations or the landfills, the vehicle is weighed in and weighed out to determine the amount of yard waste dropped off. For most residents it will be less than 200 pounds, and residents will be charged $7.50.

For residents who may only have a few bags of yard waste to dispose of, Parkowski recommends taking it to a smaller collection station. These are the locations with the individual recycling containers, but they will also accept yard waste for $1 per bag, Parkowski said.

Prior to going to the collection station, such as the locations in Long Neck and Ellendale, the resident must purchase a $10 punch card. When dropping off yard waste at the collection station, the punch card serves as money. Punch cards can be purchased at the transfer station on Route 5 or Milford, at the Dover DSWA office, online at dswa.com or at the Sussex County administration building in Georgetown.

“It may be more advantageous for residents to use the smaller collection stations if they just have a few bags,” said Parkowski.

Residents can also contract with Grizzly’s Landscape Supply on Route 9 outside Lewes. Grizzly’s will accept bags of yard waste at the Route 9 location, but it will also pick up yard waste for a fee of $3 per bag. Grizzly’s works with Blue Hen Organics to compost the material for commercial use.

Milton

On Monday, March 7, Milton Town Council voted unanimously to provide a 30-yard container to be placed at the Milton maintenance yard for residents to drop off their yard waste. This pilot program for yard waste in Milton is just in the early stages, so no fees or schedule have yet been determined. Town officials estimate the container will cost Milton about $150 for one to two weeks, but the contract is still being ironed out.

Mayor Cliff Newlands said the town has to develop a policy because yard materials can no longer be commingled with other trash. Residents with private waste haulers should contact the hauler to determine how to dispose of yard waste. Other options are to compost the waste, if permitted in the development, Newlands said.

Once Milton contracts with M&T, a waste hauler, to provide the 30-yard container, the dates will be publicized.

“This is an unexpected service that we are being forced to manage,” said Newlands. “The state gave us options and direction with recycling but did nothing with yard waste.”

Lewes

Lewes Mayor and Council voted unanimously March 7 to contract with waste hauler Blue Hen Organics for curbside pickup of yard waste. Blue Hen composts the yard waste to make mulch for commercial customers.

Lewes City Manager Paul Eckrich said the town plans to implement the new yard waste program in April, but the cost to residents has not been determined.

Eckrich said the town has been discussing yard waste disposal since October and provides a link on the town website for more information at www.ci.lewes.de.us.
“The yard waste issue has proved challenging to Lewes for several reasons,” Eckrich said. “One could argue this is an unfunded mandate by the state, which the cities are now forced to deal with. The burden of the costs has been an issue.”

Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth officials are still considering a permanent yard waste program, but for now, the policy continues to allow residents to rake loose, clean leaves to the curb and also place bundled branches at the curb. The branches must be smaller than 4 inches in diameter. They are to be bundled with twine in lengths of less than 4 feet and weighing less than 40 pounds.

“We desire to continue providing collection of refuse and of yard waste to our residents in an efficient program and without incurring or charging additional fees,” said Rehoboth Town Manager Gregory Ferrese.

The city plans to make a schedule and program official in the future. Officials are considering picking up loose, clean leaves with a leaf vacuum from Oct. 1 to May 14. The leaves must be free of other debris, including twigs and nonorganic material.

They are also considering a method to pick up bagged grass clippings, flower bed stalks, small prunings, dead plants and leaves. The clippings must be in paper bags or compostable bags, and the exact schedule has yet to be determined. The bags must weigh less than 40 pounds. Yard waste in any other container will not be accepted.

“City workers now have to make two trips instead of one to separately pick up refuse and pick up yard waste,” said Ferrese. “Further, it means two trips to disposal sites instead of one – more labor, more fuel and more wear and tear on the vehicles – but all for a good cause.”

Dewey Beach

As of March 8, Dewey had not enacted a yard waste policy.

“In Dewey we are researching the issue and trying to figure out a solution or people will dispose of yard waste in unacceptable ways,” said Dewey Mayor Diane Hanson. “It seems like a wonderful opportunity for an entrepreneur to provide this service to towns as they all seem to be scrambling for a solution.”

Locations to drop off yard waste:

By weight:
• Route 5 transfer station
• Milford transfer station on Route 113
• Any DSWA location

By bag:
• Long Neck collection station on Mount Joy Road

Companies accepting yard waste:
• Grizzly’s on Route 9
• Shady Oak Farm, Doddtown Road, Harbeson
• Stockley Materials, Georgetown
• Sussex Tree Inc., Route 24, Lewes
• Gatewood Inc., East Robbins Road, Georgetown
• Blue Hen Organics, Fox Run Road, Frankford
• Blessings Greenhouse, Draper Road, Milford

For more information: www.dnrec.delaware.gov or dswa.com