Cities step in to collect yard debris
January 25, 2012
By Michele Mihalovich
The storm is over, but now what to do with the downed tree limbs in your yard?
There are a few options, starting with a special storm debris collection from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the North Bend Public Works Yard, 1155 E. North Bend Way.
Cheryl Proffitt-Schmidt, administrative services director for the city of North Bend, said the event is only for North Bend utility customers and citizens must bring a copy of their North Bend utility bill to the collection site.
Allied Waste, now called Republic Services, is helping with the special collection. Proffitt-Schmidt said the collection is only for wood debris from the recent storm, and all limbs and branches need to be cut into 4-foot lengths.
No other form of garbage or recyclables may be dropped off.
“We just knew there was going to be a big need for this,” she said. “It’s only for these two days, but if the floodgates open and two days aren’t enough, then maybe we’ll schedule more days.”
Joan Pliego, Snoqualmie’s communications coordinator, said the city will hold a free collection point for woody debris at the former holiday tree lot, on the corner of Snoqualmie Parkway and state Route 202, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and again on Feb. 4 and 5.
She pointed out that the collection is only for Snoqualmie residents and that no leaves, sod, grass clippings, food or animal waste will be accepted.
Sammamish is also holding a special storm debris collection this weekend. Mike Keller, the parks resource supervisor, said he’s expecting a pretty big turn out.
“We’ve held these after storms in the past and easily collect hundreds of yards,” he said.
Again, this is only for Sammamish residents and only tree branches and yard debris will be taken.
Collections will be held at Beaver Lake Park ball fields, 2526 244th Ave. S.E., and East Sammamish Park, 21300 N.E. 16th St.
Collections will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you’re not a local resident, Doug Williams, spokesman for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, said garbage haulers have told him that customers may set out twice the normal amount of trash at no extra charge on the next regular collection day.
He said the county is not offering any special collections for storm debris.
“We want everyone to be able to clean up the mess this storm left us, but try and get another use out of it, such as firewood,” Williams said.
He also said the county’s website offers a list of companies that remove downed trees and fallen tree limbs, and then recycles the waste, usually for landscaping uses.
Go to http://your.kingcounty.gov/ solidwaste/wdidw/material.asp.
Michele Mihalovich: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com.
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