Wake Forest homeowners can breathe easier and stop fussing. The Town of Wake Forest resumed collecting yard waste on Monday, May 11.
In late March the Town was forced to suspend yard waste collection in response to the closure of the Raleigh Yard Waste Center due to COVID-19. Although the yard waste center reopened to Raleigh residents in mid-April, the facility remains closed to outside residents and municipalities. The location of a private facility willing to accept the Town’s yard waste makes it possible for Wake Forest to resume normal yard waste collection service.
After weeks of exploring possible alternatives following the closure of its normal yard waste disposal site, the Town of Wake Forest has located a private facility willing to accept the Town’s yard waste. As a result, Wake Forest will resume yard waste collection service Monday, May 11, at 7 a.m. Crews will follow the normal collection schedule beginning with Monday’s route.
Beginning May 11, residents must bag for collection all leaves, pine needles and grass clippings or place them inside a garbage receptacle marked ‘YW’ (yard waste). As always, please avoid placing items on or near mailboxes, utility boxes, utility poles or other fixed objects.
Residents that currently use a 48-gallon recycling cart can upgrade to a 96-gallon cart and keep the smaller receptacle for yard waste by marking “YW” on both sides. Similarly, residents that already have a 96-gallon recycling cart can request and obtain a free 48-gallon cart for yard waste. To learn more or request a cart, visit http://bit.ly/CartRequestForm.
Residents are urged to observe the following guidelines to help improve the yard waste collection process:
- Bags may be clear or opaque but must be at least 13-gallons in size – the size of a standard kitchen garbage can liner;
- Do not place yard waste in grocery store shopping bags or inside Town-issued rollout trash or recycling carts;
- Do not mix in sticks, trash, rocks or other debris; Place your bagged leaves, pine needles and grass clippings behind the curb by 7 a.m. on your normal yard waste collection day.
To view a map of the weekly yard waste collection schedule, visit the yard waste page on the Town’s website. Wake Forest residents can track the progress of collection crews by calling the Yard Waste Collection Hotline at 919-435-9582. The hotline is updated each weekday morning by 8 a.m. with information identifying areas where crews will be working that day.
Wake Forest residents are encouraged to stay informed about the Town’s trash, recycling and yard waste collection programs, including changes to the normal collection schedules, by signing up for the “Waste Wizard.” The Waste Wizard is an interactive tool that allows users to sign up for waste collection reminders and download collection schedules. As a bonus, the Waste Wizard is provided as a function on the Town of Wake Forest app. For more information or to download the Town’s app, visit the Town’s website.
Residents can also receive email notifications concerning the Town’s solid waste operations by signing up for E-Notifier.
For more information, contact the Public Works Department at publicworksdept@wakeforestnc.gov.
