Page 14 - Overview Winter 2018

OVERLAND PARK’S INTO ECOLOGY
Winter2018
Dos and Don’ts of Yard Waste
Illegal dumping of leaves, trimmings, branches, grass clippings and other yard waste may create big problems. Yard debris is a significant source of water pollution.
Fall can produce a lot of materials to dispose of each year, including leaves, grass clippings, weeds, branches and assorted debris. Disposing of these items properly can help keep your neighborhood clean, while improper disposal can be harmful to woodlands, wetlands, lakes and creeks. Please use the tips below to properly dispose of fall yard waste.
Do use the curbside pickup services provided as part of your regular trash service. Contact your hauler directly for details regarding yard waste collection. The city does not provide trash or yard waste services.
Do consider mulching your leaves and grass to eliminate the need to rake them up or bag them in the first place.
Don’t dump yard wastes on public property. Disposing of yard waste on public property is not permitted. In addition to being unsightly, it can pose damage to existing vegetation. It may also result in a ticket.
Piles of leaves and brush do not readily decompose and may remain visible for years. Waste piles suppress the growth of native vegetation that provides food and shelter
for birds and other wildlife, and can help promote the growth of weed species.
Don’t dump yard wastes in or adjacent to
wetlands, lakes and creeks. Our wetlands and other water sources serve many functions including
filtering pollutants and sediment from stormwater runoff, recharging groundwater supplies, providing food and shelter for wildlife and capturing runoff to prevent flooding. Placing yard waste in these areas can impair these functions. Additionally, as yard waste decomposes it releases nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which in turn promote the growth of weeds and algae.
Don’t blow, rake, or deposit yard wastes into the street or storm drain. The materials may block water flow during rain or snow melt, causing the potential for flooding. Also, nutrients from these materials may be carried downstream to lakes, streams and wetlands.
Help keep our community clean by calling the Community Services Division at 913-895-6270 to report improper handling of yard waste.
Drop-off update
Overland Park’s drop-off recycling center is a fast and convenient place to do your recycling. The center, 11921 Hardy, is open five days a week and is staffed by city employees and great volunteers who can answer questions or help with your materials.
The materials collected at the center include:
Cardboard
Paperboard
Phone books
Liquid cartons
Paper tubes
Plastic food and beverage bottles Aluminum and steel cans
Glass bottles
Window glass Magazines
Office paper
Junk mail Rechargeable batteries Scrap metals
Usable clothing Books
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