FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United States produces more than 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins each year, most of which end up contributing to waste in landfills across the country.
As Springfield residents consider retiring their soggy jack-o-lanterns and other fall decor, Springfield Environmental Services wants to remind you that organic decorations are accepted for composting at all City recycling drop-off sites.
Organic items including pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, hay bales and organic components of wreaths and garlands are accepted. Recyclers are advised to place these items in the leaf and grass bin, remembering to remove any non-organic elements including candles from pumpkins and string from hay bales. Collected organic items will be processed and turned into compost, available for purchase at all City recycling center locations.
“It’s such a waste to throw pumpkins in the trash,” explains Ashley Krug, Sustainability and Market Development Coordinator. “They end up in the landfill, where they take up to 20 years to fully decompose under anaerobic conditions, when they could be processed into rich compost to help support next year’s harvest or give your lawn a boost.”
Fall yardwaste disposal services offered by the City’s Solid Waste division
As leaf raking season progresses, please take note of the following facilities and services offered by Springfield Environmental Services:
Hours of operation for all recycling centers are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday.
As a reminder, City ordinance prohibits placing yardwaste in streets, storm drains, ditches, waterways or other drainage areas. Placing yard waste in streets or storm drains can cause flooding and waterway pollution. Residents are encouraged to manage yardwaste responsibly by mulching or composting on their own, or disposing of it at the following city-managed facilities:
The Yardwaste Recycling Center
The City’s Yardwaste Recycling Center (YRC), located at 3790 S. Farm Road 119, is the ideal location for most yardwaste disposal. The YRC accepts cut grass and leaves, as well as brush and limbs up to 4-feet-long and 6 inches in diameter. The YRC is the only location where residential brush in pickup loads and larger is accepted. Large brush and limb disposal incur a fee dependent on load size. Fees for an average car or pickup load or trailer under 8 feet are $8.75. For full information on brush disposal fees, visit https://www.springfieldmo.gov/491/Yardwaste-Recycling-Center.
The YRC processes grass clippings, leaves and other organics into compost and also grinds woody materials for landscaping mulch. These products are available for sale in bulk at the YRC and by bag at all recycling center locations.
Franklin Ave. & Lone Pine Recycling Centers
The City accepts limited amounts of brush and yardwaste at the Franklin Avenue Recycling Center, 731 N. Franklin, and at the Lone Pine Recycling Center, 3020 S. Lone Pine. The centers accept small sticks, cut grass and leaves at a daily limit of 10 bags per household. This limit is strongly enforced to allow all customers the opportunity to drop off leaves and yardwaste. Bundles of brush must be no more than 18 inches in diameter with branches less than two inches in diameter, cut no longer than four feet in length. Loads above the size and quantity limits will be referred to the Yardwaste Recycling Center. Recycling is free, but suggested honor system fees and donations are encouraged at all facilities.
Visit springfieldmo.gov/recycling for information regarding hours of operation, locations and materials accepted or call the Recycling Hotline at 417-864-1904.
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For more information, contact Communication Coordinator Kristen Milam at 573-819-3713 or [email protected].