Yard waste is becoming a problem

NEW LONDON – City residents placing yard waste in the city’s gutters during times the city does not pick up yard waste is becoming a problem in the city.
That was the message Robert Garske, Director of Public Works for the city of New London, told the Board of Public Works at its Sept. 3 meeting.
Garske told the board that the city receives a lot of calls after storms, especially when high winds are involved, regarding collecting tree branches and brush. He said a storm event has to be strong enough to force a large number of trees down for a city clean-up to be called.
For yard waste not related to storms, the city provides a yard waste site for citizens to bring their yard waste to, Garske said.
“They pile it on the streets, it’s really hard to address it right now, especially with staff,” Garske said.

He added that he’d rather have his department’s employees working on the streets, rather than collecting small amounts of yard waste around the city.
Garske suggested the city implement a system in which a door hanger be made that would remind residents with debris in the gutter, that curbside pick-up is only at designated times. The door hanger would advise residents what to do and where to go with yard waste placed in the street during the non-collection timeframe. If the yard waste is not addressed a fee would be invoiced to the residents for noncompliance and the waste would be collected by the city’s Public Works Department.
“There will be a cost because it’s taking away from other things that we need to get done,” Garske said.
The board had a positive response to that suggestion.
Suggested fee amounts to be added to the city’s fee schedule will be discussed at the Board of Public Works’ October meeting.