ALPENA — The City of Alpena has scheduled bagged lawn waste and brush pickup for Monday. All materials must be placed on the curbline by 6 a.m. Monday. Any materials placed at the curb after that time will not be collected, the city stated in a press release. Materials should not be placed more than 48 hours prior to Monday morning.

Changes this year include encouraging residents to use compostable lawn waste bags, which will be less labor intensive, eliminate landfilling the black plastic bags, and improve efficiency of the composting process. The most common brown paper lawn bags are locally available at several retailers. Beginning in 2026, the composting bags will be required for lawn waste to be picked up curbside.

Additional items the city reminds residents to be aware of include:

~ Bagged lawn waste material and brush pickup is for residential properties only.

~ Bags and brush may sit in front of your house for multiple days before being collected.

~ Bagged lawn waste must not include soil, bushes, or household waste.

~ All brush should be stacked with the cut edge facing the street.

~ All brush piles should be no longer than 6 feet by 6 feet.

~ Brush piles and bagged material should be piled and will be picked up separately.

In the event that a pile has not been removed for any of the above reasons, city employees will place a door hanger at the residence explaining the reasoning. Any materials left within the right of way shall be removed within seven days to prevent code enforcement involvement.

The Public Works Service Center at 1001 Long Lake Ave. is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for city residents only to drop off lawn materials. The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays for lawn waste material drop off through October. Brush is not accepted at the Public Works Service Center.