From the Town of Wake Forest for The White Street Journal
On January 1, the Town of Wake Forest initiated several important changes to its yard waste collection program, including a requirement that residents schedule large brush pickups and a doubling of the weekly bag limit of yard waste from 10 to 20 bags.
Large brush collections may be scheduled online via the Town’s large brush pickup request form at www.wakeforestnc.gov/public-works/solid-waste. Area residents without internet access may schedule a pickup by calling 919-435-9570 Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Generally, “large brush” is any yard waste, including limbs over four feet in length, that does not fit into bags or yard waste containers. Brush placed behind the curb in front of individual homes (not in front of vacant lots, common areas or open space) will be collected on residents’ normal yard waste collection day.
After scheduling an appointment, residents are urged to observe the following guidelines to ensure collection:
- Large brush must be loose, unbundled, and visible to the driver – not contained in a bag, cart, box or collection container.
- Like all yard waste set out for collection, brush must be placed behind the curb in front of individual homes, not in front of vacant lots, common areas or open space.
- Brush must be less than 10 inches in diameter and no longer than six feet.
- Brush exceeding six inches in diameter must not exceed two feet.
- Brush must be set out by 7 a.m. on your collection day, but no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before collection.
- Drivers need a clearance of 25 feet, so avoid low-hanging power lines and do not place brush on or near mailboxes, utility boxes, utility poles, fences or other fixed objects.
While the weekly bag limit of yard waste has increased from 10 bags to 20 bags, Public Works officials are urging residents to help ensure the safety of crews by using clear or transparent bags only. Residents may also place yard waste inside receptacles marked “YW” (Yard Waste). Again, residents must place all yard waste behind the curb in front of their homes, not in front of vacant lots, common areas or open space. Beginning Monday, March 1, yard waste not in clear or transparent bags (or receptacles marked YW) will not be collected.
The Town has created a portal on its website that provides a complete overview of these and other improvements to its solid waste collection program. Available at http://bit.ly/WFSolidWasteImprovements, the portal includes a historic overview of the Town’s billing history, information on starting and stopping collection service, and answers to frequently asked questions. For more information, email Solid Waste Supervisor Chad Hildebrandt at childebrandt@wakeforestnc.gov.
