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London considers fines for yard waste in streets
(by Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor - August 10, 2010)
London City Council is considering a new law that would prohibit placement of grass clippings and yard waste in the street. The penalty for violations would be fines and possible charges for cleanup.
The law would apply to residents, property owners, renters, businesses and industries. Violators would be subject to up to a $50 fine. Each subsequent offense in a 12-month period would be a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
Violators would have 24 hours after receiving notice to clean the yard waste out of the street. If the cleanup is not done, the safety-service director could hire a company or use the street or maintenance department to do the work at a rate of $100 per hour to be charged to the property owner. Each day thereafter would be considered a separate offense.
The proposed law is designed to prevent yard waste from clogging storm drains and blocking roadways and give the city a formal enforcement procedure for violators, said Safety-Service Director Steve Hume.
In discussions about the proposal, Councilman Dick Minner noted that commercial mowers often blow grass clippings into the street. Leaves present another issue.
The proposed law comes at the same time the city is announcing they will not pick up leaves this fall. In the past, the city made two passes through town to pick up residents’ leaves. Officials would encourage residents to put the leaves along the curb for easy pick-up.
Due to budget cuts, however, the city no longer has the personnel or funds to pick up leaves. Officials tried to get the word out to residents and businesses last year, but still ended up sending crews out once to pick up leaves to prevent them from clogging storm drains.
As for what people should do with their leaves, the city transfer station on Jenkinson Avenue is open from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and takes yard waste at no charge. Hume also suggested that city council contact the Board of Public Utilities about adding a pick-up service for a fee for anyone who cannot get their leaves and other yard waste to the transfer station on their own.
Council will hold public hearings on the yard waste ordinance at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2 and Sept. 16.
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