Spring cleaning is something many people are starting to do, and that sometimes includes cleaning up around not just the inside of a home, but also the outside of it.
Clipping tree limbs, trimming bushes, cutting grass and other yard work can also lead to debris or trimmings being collected and disposed of.
However, St. Johns County wants residents to be aware the best procedures to follow when taking the next step in the cleanup process and putting it out to the curb for pickup.
Leaves, grass clippings, twigs, and other small pieces of yard waste should be placed in a bag, bundle or container to help keep the materials together to prevent them from scattering while also making it more efficient to pick up.
Containers with yard waste should not be larger than 32 gallons capacity in size and should not weigh more than 50 pounds.
In Florida, where a palm tree is the state tree, palms fronds are very prevalent and that means having to dispose of the palm fronds once they are cut.
The county instructs that all palm fronds, branches and shrubs should be stacked neatly in piles running parallel to the curb, and that the piled items should not be more than six feet long and weigh more than 50 pounds.
Yard waste is to be separated from garbage and recycled products, and they are each supposed to be put out by 6 a.m. on that area’s scheduled collection day.
Collection days can sometimes be forgotten or mixed up, which is why the county has partnered with the app “Recycle Coach,” to help residents keep track of their curbside collection schedule.
The county has the upgraded version of the app, which offers more educational content and recycling resources, especially when it comes to figuring out if certain materials are on the county’s recyclable list or not, including software that allows the app to tell someone if a product is recyclable or not just by taking a photo of it.
Other helpful tips from the county include advising people to not blow leaves and other yard waste the street or storm drains, because those drains empty into nearby waterways and could create issues as a result.
Yard waste that is taken and placed in front of vacant lots or properties will not be collected and is discouraged by the county.
Items that are not permitted as yard waste include whole trees, land clearing debris, fencing, landscape timbers, garden hoses, planters, flowerpots, and yard decorations, as well as any other items that does not fit the size and weights parameters mentioned above.
