Clearing debris from Hurricane Ian? Yard waste disposal options vary across the Triangle

Hurricane Ian swept across the Southern United States last week, leaving thousands without power and five people in North Carolina dead.

In the Triangle, once the sun rose Saturday, residents were left with plenty of fallen limbs, stray branches and leaves strewn across their yards and on their roofs.

Most municipalities across the Triangle are continuing with their normally scheduled yardwaste pickups.

But the City of Raleigh is temporarily increasing the number of yard waste bags and bundles eligible for pick up through Oct. 19, according to Raleigh Solid Waste Services.

For the next two weeks, residents will be able to place up to 20 biodegradable paper yard waste bags on their curbside (up from 15) and 10 bundles of limbs (up from five) for curbside pick-up.

According to the city’s guidelines, bundles of sticks should be tied with rope or twine with a weight limit of 50 pounds per bundle.

The debris will be picked up on regular collection days.

For those with more waste than curbside pickup allots, the Raleigh Yard Waste Center at 900 N. Hope Road is accepting drop-off waste. This program is only available to City of Raleigh residents.

Across the Triangle, there are a number of other procedures for disposing of post-hurricane yard waste.

Wake County

Wake County residents can use a handful of waste center across the area for drop-off services.

▪ Buffaloe Wood Recycling Facility: 5525 Wake Academy Drive, Raleigh

▪ Carolina Tree Debris: 1417 Old Watkins Road, Raleigh

▪ City of Raleigh Yard Waste Facility: 900 New Hope Road, Raleigh

▪ Rowland Landfill: 3000 Gresham Lake Road, Raleigh

▪ Triangle Forest Products Inc.: 4525 Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs (no leaves or pine straw accepted)

▪ Wall Recycling: 520 Pristine Water Drive, Apex

Cary said it will be “relaxing” yard waste pickup rules for the weeks of Oct. 2 and 9. “We ask that citizens adhere to the rules as closely as possible, but we will make every effort to collect anything placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day,” the town writes on its website. There is typically a maximum volume allowed for curbside yard waste.

Waste can be placed in reusable containers, paper bags or securely tied bundles. Waste can also be taken to the Citizen’s Convenience Center, 313 N. Dixon Ave.

Durham

City of Durham Residents enroll in an annual yard waste program for $7.50 a month. Curbside collection takes place weekly. Waste should be put in the brown yard waste cart. Residents may place up to 10 biodegradable leaf bags per collection.

Paid city residents also are eligible for two collections of bulky brush a year. Residents will be charged for additional removal of debris.

A city yard waste facility is located at the Waste Disposal & Recycling Center at 2115 E. Club Blvd.

Durham County operates waste sites that accept yard debris for unincorporated Durham County residents.

▪ Northern: 11894 N. Roxboro Road

▪ Parkwood: 5928 N.C. 55

▪ Redwood: 100 Electra Road 100 Electra Road

Orange County

Chapel Hill offers weekly trash and yard trimmings collections for residents within town limits. Those receiving Monday trash service will have yard debris picked up Thursday. Those with Tuesday trash service will have yard debris picked up Friday.

Leaves, grass and pine needles should be placed in carts (bought from the town) or paper yard debris bags. Plastic bags won’t be accepted. The town does not collect large logs or stumps. Limbs should be cut to less than 4 feet in length.

Carrborro picks up yard waste from residents twice a month. It can be place in roll-out containers or raked in a pile. Limbs must be no bigger than 3 feet long and 4 inches in diameter. No paper or plastic bags allowed. Residents with “large/oversized piles” will have charged for pickup.

Hillsborough collects brush on regular trash collection days. Brush can be no more than 6 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter. Brush can be placed in paper bags or tied into bundles weighing 30 pounds or less.

For large loads, Orange County’s Solid Waste Convenience Centers accept up to one pickup truckload of yard trimmings per day or weekend period at no charge. Tree trunks must be 12 inches in diameter or less. For more information, call 919-968-2788.

The centers are located at:

▪ 1514 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill

▪ 1616 Ferguson Road, Chapel Hill

▪ 7001 High Rock Road, Efland

▪ 3605 Walnut Grove Church Road, Hillsborough