Page 14 - Overview Winter 2019

OVERLAND PARK’S INTO ECOLOGY
Dos and Don’ts of Yard Waste
Illegal dumping of leaves, trimmings, branches, grass clippings and other yard waste may create big problems.
Fall can produce a lot of materials to dispose of each year, including leaves, grass clippings, weeds, branches and assorted debris. Proper disposal of yard debris helps keep your neighborhood clean, while improper disposal may be harmful to woodlands, wetlands, lakes and creeks. Please use the tips below to properly dispose of fall yard waste.
Do consider mulching your leaves and grass to eliminate the need to rake or bag them.
Don’t dump yard waste on public property. Disposing of yard waste on public property, such as street gutters, is not permitted. In addition to being unsightly, it can pose damage to existing vegetation and may also result in a court appearance. Piles of leaves and brush do not readily decompose and may remain for years. Waste piles suppress the growth of native vegetation that provides food and shelter for birds and other wildlife, and help promote the growth of weed species.
Don’t dump yard waste 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. Yard waste prevents these important functions. 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 waste onto the street or storm drains. Your yard waste may block water flow during rain or snow melt, causing the potential for accidents and flooding. Also, nutrients from these materials will 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.
Winter 2019
Do use the curbside yard waste pickup services provided as part of your regular trash service. Contact your hauler directly for collection details. The City does not provide trash or yard waste services.
Click the spot
RecycleSpot.org is a one-stop “spot” where users find recycling information for Overland Park and the entire Kansas City metro area. It offers information on recycling aluminum cans, appliances, building materials, computers, old paint, leaves and brush, tires, and many other items.
RecycleSpot.org allows users to:
Search by item to locate nearby recycling centers
Get detailed information geared toward residents, businesses, schools, building designers and contractors
Users also are able to search by address, which will allow them to locate the nearest recycling entity that accepts the item(s) they want to recycle along with maps and other useful
So, click the spot at recyclespot.org to find out more abouthow you can recycle more.
information.
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