In a press release, the City of Alpena announced that they will begin phasing in changes to their residential bagged lawn waste program next year.

Beginning in 2025, residents are encouraged to utilize compostable bags to dispose of their lawn waste. The use of compostable bags brings multiple benefits to the city’s composting program, which include being less labor intensive, eliminating landfilling the black plastic bags, and speeds up the composting process. The most common brown paper composting lawn waste bags are locally available at several retailers.

Beginning in 2026, composting bags will be required for lawn waste for curbside pickup, according to the release.

The City of Alpena states that residents must place bagged lawn waste material and brush on the curbline by 6 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 20. Any material placed at the curb after this time will not be collected. Residents shouldn’t place bagged lawn waste more than 48 hours in advance of Monday morning. Bags may sit at the curbline for multiple days before being collected.

According to the release, bagged lawn waste material and brush pickup is for residential properties only. Residents should stack brush with the cut edge facing the street and should be no longer than six feet by six feet.

“For reference, this would be a pile not larger than a standard size couch or three sections of standard size sidewalk sections about waist high,” the release states.

The City of Alpena explains that residents should stack brush piles and bags separately. City employees will pick these up separately, as well. If a pile is not removed for any of the reasons already stated, City of Alpena employees will place a door hanger at the residence explaining the reasoning.

According to the release, any materials left within the right of way shall be removed within seven days to prevent code enforcement involvement. The Public Works Service Center, located at 1001 Long Lake Avenue, is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, for drop-off of lawn materials for city residents only. This does not include brush.

The City of Alpena states that the Public Works Service Center is no longer open on Saturday and Sunday for drop-off of lawn material. However, watch the City of Alpena’s Facebook page for possible weekend openings.