City of Norwich spring pickup has begun
The City of Norwich is reminding residents that all leaves, lawn trimmings, and twigs left out for collection must be in paper or biodegradable bags. Plastic bags and cardboard boxes will not be picked up. (Photo by Sarah Genter)
NORWICH — The City of Norwich spring pickup is going on now through May 20, and the city is reminding residents that they will now only pick up leaf litter and other yard debris if it is in paper or biodegradable bags.
"The council passed a policy last year to go to paper or biodegradable bags in 2024. So as of now, any bags that residents wish to have picked up by the City of Norwich have to be paper or biodegradable bags," said City of Norwich Mayor Brian Doliver. "Biodegradable is a kind of plastic, but it biodegrades faster. People can buy them. They generally are green or they have the recyclable symbol on them."
Paper bags can be purchased locally from Lowe's and Curtis Lumber. Doliver said he called the stores in anticipation of the spring pickup to let them know to stock up.
City residents can place bags of leaves, lawn trimmings, and twigs between the curb and sidewalk to be picked up by the City of Norwich Department of Public Works (DPW).
Additionally, DPW will also pick up bundles of brush and branches that are no more than six inches in length and three inches in diameter, and that are tied with string, rope, or twine. Brush that is tied with wire will not be collected.
The city also cannot pick up stones; bags with paper, garbage, or animal feces; tree removals or stumps; brush removals; or debris left in cardboard boxes. All items left for collection must be light enough for one person to lift to shoulder height.
Doliver said any city residents who would like to take bags of yard debris for their gardens are welcome to do so.
At Tuesday's common council meeting, council members remarked they have seen lots of plastic bags out on the curb for collection. Doliver said they are working on notifying residents that they must use paper or biodegradable bags.
"I’m not exactly sure how we’re going to do it, but we’re going to reach out to these individual homeowners one way or another to just try and let them know that the bags they put out, the city can’t pick them up," he said.
Not only is the switch from plastic to paper better for the environment, but Doliver said it makes less work for DPW crews.
"I know a number of communities have been doing it, and the Street Tree Committee had been encouraging us to go in this direction for some time now, and we were slowly kind of moving in that direction," said Doliver.
"As of last year the council decided that we need to head in that direction for environmental reasons, obviously, but also it’s so much easier for our employees. They don’t have to rip open the plastic bags for every bag to dump the leaves," he continued. "It’s so much easier and faster. They have a pile and they can just dump those bags, and they just biodegrade themselves, without having to rip open all the plastic. I believe we were having to take the plastic bag waste to the landfill on a weekly basis."
The City of Norwich will collect yard debris and brush again in the fall.
"The council passed a policy last year to go to paper or biodegradable bags in 2024. So as of now, any bags that residents wish to have picked up by the City of Norwich have to be paper or biodegradable bags," said City of Norwich Mayor Brian Doliver. "Biodegradable is a kind of plastic, but it biodegrades faster. People can buy them. They generally are green or they have the recyclable symbol on them."
Paper bags can be purchased locally from Lowe's and Curtis Lumber. Doliver said he called the stores in anticipation of the spring pickup to let them know to stock up.
City residents can place bags of leaves, lawn trimmings, and twigs between the curb and sidewalk to be picked up by the City of Norwich Department of Public Works (DPW).
Additionally, DPW will also pick up bundles of brush and branches that are no more than six inches in length and three inches in diameter, and that are tied with string, rope, or twine. Brush that is tied with wire will not be collected.
The city also cannot pick up stones; bags with paper, garbage, or animal feces; tree removals or stumps; brush removals; or debris left in cardboard boxes. All items left for collection must be light enough for one person to lift to shoulder height.
Doliver said any city residents who would like to take bags of yard debris for their gardens are welcome to do so.
At Tuesday's common council meeting, council members remarked they have seen lots of plastic bags out on the curb for collection. Doliver said they are working on notifying residents that they must use paper or biodegradable bags.
"I’m not exactly sure how we’re going to do it, but we’re going to reach out to these individual homeowners one way or another to just try and let them know that the bags they put out, the city can’t pick them up," he said.
Not only is the switch from plastic to paper better for the environment, but Doliver said it makes less work for DPW crews.
"I know a number of communities have been doing it, and the Street Tree Committee had been encouraging us to go in this direction for some time now, and we were slowly kind of moving in that direction," said Doliver.
"As of last year the council decided that we need to head in that direction for environmental reasons, obviously, but also it’s so much easier for our employees. They don’t have to rip open the plastic bags for every bag to dump the leaves," he continued. "It’s so much easier and faster. They have a pile and they can just dump those bags, and they just biodegrade themselves, without having to rip open all the plastic. I believe we were having to take the plastic bag waste to the landfill on a weekly basis."
The City of Norwich will collect yard debris and brush again in the fall.
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