Yard Waste

Green Racine Yardcare Program

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Background:

Section 287.07 (2) of the Wisconsin Statues banned land-filling of yard waste beginning on January 3rd, 1993.

Section 78-107(3) of the Racine Municipal Code requires residential properties to recycle their yard waste per the rules and regulations of the Green Racine Yardcare Program.

Yard waste means: uncontaminated leaves; grass clippings; yard and garden debris and brush, including clean woody vegetative material no greater than 4 inches in diameter excluding stumps; roots and shrubs with intact root balls. Yard waste containing solid waste, foreign matter.

Rules and Regulations:

1. Yard waste shall not be placed for disposal in solid waste carts. Any carts containing yard wastes, or any other regulated wastes, will be tagged and not collected.
   • Exception: Property owners may dispose of invasive plants in their solid waste carts in separate clear plastic bags, tied and labeled "Invasive Plants - Approved by WI DNR for land filling". Invasive plants are defined by Chapter NR 40 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, and include garlic mustard and invasive species of buck-thorn, honeysuckle and thistle. A full listing of invasive species can be found on the DNR website.
2. Yard waste from residential properties, i.e. properties with one to four dwelling units, can be recycled through the following method:
   1. Dropping off all yard wastes at any of the three City operated Solid Waste Customer Service sites, for no charge.
      For hours and locations visit the Customer Service Site Page here.
   2. During the fall (October 1st through November 30th) and spring (Determined annually based on weather) curb-line leaf collections:
   3. During monthly "Mini Leaf Collections" scheduled on each customer's regular solid waste collection day during the second full week of each month from May through September:

      Please note during any collection all Residents shall place their non-bagged yard waste and properly prepared brush/branches (cut no greater than 4 feet in length, and no greater than 4 inches in diameter and bundled no greater than 2 feet in diameter with twine or rope) in the gutters of their street for collection.
      DO NOT PLACE YARD WASTE IN ALLEYS OR IN BAGS/CONTAINERS.

   4. Backyard compsting.

Pleaste Note:

Per section 82-32 of the Municipal Code, yard waste can only be placed along the curb-line / in gutters from October 1st through November 30th, and during the following periods designated by the Commissioner of Public Works: Spring Leaf Collections (Determined Annually); and from the Saturday before the second full week of the month, to the evening prior to your next regularly scheduled solid waste collection day of the second full week of the month, from May though September.

If yard waste is placed in the gutter outside of these time periods, a notice directing the resident of the abutting property to remove the yard waste within 24 hours will be delivered / posted to the front door of the abutting property. If the yard waste isn't removed from the gutter within 24 hours, a Department of Public Works crew will remove the waste, and the abutting property owner will be billed for the labor, equipment and disposal costs incurred, per Sections 42-29 and 78-5 of the Municipal Code.