ASHEVILLE – In an effort to address community concerns, conserve costs and improve water quality, changes to the brush and leaf collection program were submitted as part of the budget that was adopted by City Council on May 24.
As of July 1, the frequency of brush and bagged leaf collection changed from once per month to twice per month.
Here’s how the program works:
Monday and Tuesday trash customers will have brush collected the first and third week of each month. Brush for Wednesday and Thursday trash customers will be collected the second and fourth week of the month.
Brush collection will continue to occur on a scheduled week and not a specific day. Residents should make sure brush is out for collection by 7 a.m. on the Monday of their collection week.
Brush should be cut to four feet in length and six inches in diameter. Crews ask that residents do not mix trash, debris, garden waste, weeds, vines, construction materials, leaves or dirt with their brush or bagged leaves. For the safety of crews, thorny trimmings should be placed in a separate pile.
Another change is the elimination of loose leaf collection by vacuum trucks.
All leaves must be bagged for collection. The city will provide large leaf bags to residents on a first come first served basis; bags will be available at local fire stations in October.
“Moving to bagged leaf collection only will both save money and help improve water quality since loose leaves often clog storm drains,” Public Works Director Cathy Ball said.
New brush and bagged leaves collection schedules have been mailed to residents and can also be viewed and downloaded at www.ashevillenc.gov/sanitation.
For more information, call 828-251-1122 or visit www.ashevillenc.gov/sanitation.