Starting April 20 through May 11, the City of West Allis will offer free curbside yard waste pickup. This service happens just twice a year, so it’s a great chance to get rid of natural waste like leaves, weeds, flowers, and vines. Please note that collection may take up to two weeks to begin. For more details on what can and can't be included in your yard waste piles, visit the City of West Allis website.
The official city proclamation states that these agrestal outcasts "are not accepted at the drop-off sites or collected with yard waste collection." Homeowners are encouraged instead to either leave clippings where they fall as they mow, compost them, or use them as mulch. However, if you find your lawn littered with pine cones, apples, or acorns, those count as tree "fruit" and therefore they can either be bagged and placed in the garbage or added to your yard waste pile—just remember, to make the collection process easier and to prevent any possible storm drain blockages, bagging them is preferred, as per the City of West Allis.
The city has shared some simple tips for making curbside collection easier. Rake your yard waste into a long, low pile along the curb, or if there’s no curb, place it along the roadway in a similar way. It’s a good idea to wet the materials to keep them from blowing away in the wind and to remove any pots and soil before placing plants in the pile. Residents are also asked to park at least 15 feet away from the piles to give collection crews room to work and to reduce fire risks.
For those who need to dispose of yard waste outside the scheduled collection dates, the city offers free drop-off sites. You can find the locations and hours on their website. Lastly, an important note for property owners: fruit and vegetables are known to attract rodents, so to keep those pests at bay, these should be bagged, tied up tight, and placed in your City garbage cart, not among the yard waste. With a little vigilance and adherence to the city's waste management rules, West Allis streets will be looking neat and trim in no time.
