Got Leaves? Here's How and When to Get Rid of Yard Waste in Troy

After a few recent blustery days, plenty of Troy residents are now finding themselves with yards full of freshly fallen, colorful leaves. But how do you get rid of them?

Here's a look at the city's rules and regulations for yard waste disposal as well as a few key dates to keep in mind this fall. This information was obtained directly from the Troy Department of Public Works website.

Dates to remember

Yard waste collection will continue through Dec. 13, 2012 and will resume on the first Monday in April of 2013.

On Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 22), pick-up will be delayed from Thursday to Friday.

On Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and New Year's Day (Jan. 1), pick-up will be delayed one day starting on Tuesday.

For ways you can use your lawn clipping to benefit your landscape, see SOCRRA's Healthy Lawn & Garden Education Program.

Refuse collection days and times

All refuse must be placed at the curb before 7 a.m. on your collection day. To find your collection day, visit the city's website.

Regular Refuse Collection is scheduled Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. until routes are completed. Refuse should be placed at the curb no sooner than 5pm on the preceding day. Containers should be removed as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after pickup.

Holiday collection delays

If a holiday occurs on a Monday-Thursday, collection for the remaining days of that week will be one day late. Holidays include:

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

Which containers to use

Per the City of Troy and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MIDEQ), "yard waste cannot be mixed with trash and will not be collected as trash" and "yard waste cannot be sent to the landfills."

Requirements for curbside collection of soft yard waste:

• All soft yard waste should be placed in a 35-gallon (or smaller) regulation-sized container with a "yard waste" decal, or 30-gallon brown paper bag designated for yard waste (which you can find at most hardware stores, supermarkets, lawn care resources and more). Plastic bags are NEVER accepted.
• Brush or branches less than two inches in diameter and less than three feet long are to be bundled, tied and weigh less than 40 pounds. The city suggests you place five bundles per week at your curb. The bundles will be picked up as yard waste, not "trash," per state regulations.
• Yard waste must not exceed 50 pounds per container.
• Curbside collection of compost runs for 35 weeks (from the first week of April to the first week of December).
• Residents are encouraged to leave grass clippings on their lawns or compost in their backyards.
• Backyard composting must follow city ordinance requirements.
• Yard Waste may be taken to SOCRRA Troy Transfer Station from the middle of December to April 1 at no cost.

Curbside Christmas Tree collection

After the holidays, just place your tree at the curbside on your regular refuse day. Please assure that the cut end of the tree faces the direction of traffic and that all ornaments, tinsel, hooks, etc., are removed. Do not place the tree in a plastic bag.

If you have any questions about yard waste collection, please call the Department of Public Works at 248-524-3399.