Dec 16, 2017 2 min read

WAYNESBSURG – Waynesburg residents who want the borough to pick up their Christmas trees after the holidays will have to have their tree out at the curb before the beginning of the new year.

Waynesburg Borough Council voted Monday to end the practice of having borough street workers collect residents’ yard waste, including Christmas trees. The new policy takes effect Jan. 1.

Council took the action to allow borough street workers to focus more on their other duties, borough manager Mike Simms said. The change, he said, “will free up workers so they can do more street-related and sewer-related work.”

Part of the street department’s duties includes maintaining and repairing borough sewer lines and storm drains, Simms said. Picking up yard waste during the summer “takes a lot of time,” he said. He estimated, on average, a crew spends two days a week making the pickups.

Council had discussed the possibly of having Advanced Disposal, the borough’s residential refuse collector, pick up yard wastes but felt the costs would be prohibitive and would only benefit those who do put out yard waste for pickup, Simms said.

He noted, however, Advanced Disposal does pick up grass clippings as part of its weekly collection. The clippings must be bagged and each bag can weigh no more than 50 pounds, he said.

Council also suggested the borough compile a list of individuals or companies that will pick up yard wastes such as leaves, brush and tree limbs. The borough would provide the list to residents but make no recommendations on whom the resident should employ, Simms said.

Council also voted Monday to hold its reorganization meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 2 in council chambers at the borough building.