December 4, 2006, 2006 – (Charlotte, NC) – On Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3 Solid Waste Services yard waste collection crews, with assistance from 10 crews from Allied Waste, provided yard waste collection service.  Substantial progress was made, and through the efforts of both City and contracted crews more than 860 tons of yard waste was collected from the curb throughout the City. City crews collected 796 tons of yard waste both days and contracted crews collected 70 tons of yard waste on Saturday. 

"Although the crews cleared a substantial amount of yard waste from the curb, there is still a large amount of yard waste left for collection", said Deputy Director Victoria O. Garland.  "For the remainder of the week we will continue operating all available City yard waste collection crews and supplement City crews with three contracted crews."

Garland says Solid Waste Services anticipates resuming its regular schedule by late next week.  An assessment will be made at the end of the week to determine if weekend work is necessary. 

"We are pulling all the resources we can to get the yard waste off the ground," said Solid Waste Services Deputy Director Victoria O. Garland.  "We appreciate citizens' patience and understanding."

Residents are asked to remember the following yard waste collection procedures when preparing materials for collection:

-        Separate limbs into piles small enough for one individual to handle.  Piles should be no more than 75 lbs and no more than 4 ft. high or 5 ft. long.

-        Place leaves and grass clippings in untied plastic bags or uncovered trashcans.  This helps expedite the collection process and allows crews to verify that the yard waste is not contaminated with non-yard waste material.  Bags do not have to be clear, but dark-colored bags must be untied.

• Tree stumps, limbs or logs larger than 4 in. in diameter or 5 ft. in length. 
• Limbs and other yard waste resulting from commercial tree service.