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ALPENA -- Beginning in 2026, composting bags will be required for lawn waste to be picked up curbside, according to a City of Alpena press release on Wednesday. Plastic bags will not be collected.
According to the release, the use of the bags "brings multiple benefits to the city's composting program."
The city states that the composting bags eliminate landfilling the black plastic bags, and speeds up the composting process. The most common brown paper composting lawn bags are locally available at retailers.
Nov. 2 is the final brush pickup for the season. Nov. 30 or Dec. 7, weather dependent, will be "bagged only." This schedule is subject to change.
Bagged lawn material can be dropped off at the DPW building in Alpena, though no brush material will be accepted. Drop off times are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
According to the release, the following procedure has been established:
- All bagged lawn waste material and brush shall be placed on the curbline by Monday at 6 a.m. Any material placed at the curb after Monday, at 6 a.m. will not be collected. Material shall not be placed more than 48 hours in advance of Monday morning.
- Bagged lawn waste material and brush pickup is for residential properties only.
- Please remember that the bags may sit in front of your house for up to four days before being collected.
- Bagged lawn waste shall contain lawn waste only. No soil, bushes, or household waste will be accepted.
- All brush shall be stacked with the cut edge facing the street.
- All brush piles shall be no larger 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.
- Brush piles and bagged material should be piled 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 material left within the right of way shall be removed within seven days to prevent code enforcement involvement.