SWACO will offer City of Columbus residents six (6) additional free Saturday yard waste collections beginning Saturday October 31st. The collections will continue on Saturdays through December 5th from 9am until 3pm. The new sites are in addition to nine (9) other locations available now for Columbus and Franklin County residents.

"We are working together with SWACO to make it more convenient for Columbus residents to drop off their leaves and other yard waste during the peak of the fall yard waste season," said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. "Until we are able to restore regular yard waste collection next spring, it is important to provide these additional locations that will be more accessible to our neighborhoods."

"SWACO saw a need on the part of Columbus residents," says SWACO Executive Director Ron Mills. "We are glad to be working with Columbus to assist residents with their fall cleanup. This will help us keep leaves and branches out of the waste stream and ensure that they will be properly composted."

In the last full year of free yard waste collection for the City (2008), 230,000 households were served. Over 28,000 tons of yard waste was diverted from SWACO's Franklin County landfill through those collections.

"Providing Columbus residents with more opportunities for free disposal of yard waste in a responsible manner was a major priority for City Council," said Hearcel F. Craig, chair of the Public Service Committee. "I applaud the mayor's administration and SWACO for taking our concerns seriously and adding these drop-off locations as we look forward to resuming our normal yard waste removal program next year."

The collections are for residents only. Only yard waste will be accepted at the collections. SWACO's Nail-a-Dumper team will keep a close watch on the collection sites to make sure there is no illegal dumping.

Leaves and grass clippings must be delivered to the collections in biodegradable bags. Twigs and branches should be cut to no longer than 4 feet in length and bundled together with string or twine.

SWACO suggests residents lessen their environmental footprint by home composting their yard waste. Also, grass clippings are a good nutrient for lawns. Residents are urged to "just mow it" and not bag their grass clippings. More information on yard waste collections and composting is available by clicking on the "yard waste" button at www.swaco.org

New Yard Waste Collection Sites for Columbus Residents:

• Columbus Dept. of Public Service 25th Avenue Material Yard; 1881 East 25th Ave.
• Columbus Dept of Public Service Transportation North Outpost; 500 Scherer's Ct.
• City of Columbus Westgate Park; 455 South Westgate Ave.
• Columbus Dept. of Public Utilities Electricity offices; 3568 Indianola Ave.
• Columbus Dept. of Public Utilities Fairwood Avenue Facility; 1250 Fairwood Ave.
• Columbus Fleet Management Facility; 4211 Groves Rd.

Existing Residential Yard Waste Sites In Franklin County:

• 7000 Jackson Pike, Columbus Com-Til, the Cit's compost facility (no grass clippings); (614) 645-3152
• 2850 Rohr Road, Groveport (SWACO/Kurtz Bros.); (614) 491-0868
• 6055-C Westerville Road, Westerville (Kurtz Bros.); (614) 882-0200
• 6279 Houchard Road, Dublin (Kurtz Bros.); (614) 873-2000
• 6747 Taylor Road S.W. (Mulch Manufacturing, Inc.); (614) 864-4004
• 4120 Roberts Road, Columbus (SWACO/Ohio Mulch); (614) 921-9330
• 44665 Westerville Rd. (Ohio Mulch); (614) 891-3242
• 1600 Universal Rd. (Ohio Mulch); (614) 445-4455
• 537 Reynoldsburg—New Albany Rd. (Ohio Mulch); (614) 863-0445