Summit County Curbside Yard Waste Program

Summit County Curbside Yard Waste Program 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the yard waste program? 

The Summit County Curbside Yard Waste Program is an optional curbside yard waste program Republic Services is planning to offer to selected locations in Summit County in Spring 2024. In order to successfully launch the program, we need 3,500 residences in the selected area to opt into the program. If the minimum number of sign ups are received, participating residents will receive 95-gallon yard waste carts in which they can place residential yard waste. 

What is yard waste? 

Examples of yard waste include grass clippings, tree limbs, leaves, etc. Yard waste containers should never be used for food, sod, rocks, dirt, non yard-waste organic materials, alternative recyclable materials, and garbage/waste, etc.

How much will the program cost? 

The cost of service will be an annual fee of $125 for collection from April 1 to October 31, 2024 (with annual increases per the County's agreement with Republic). Prior to beginning service, participants will also be billed an additional $85 start up and cart delivery fee. The program will only start if the minimum number of residents have signed up. At that time, you will receive a confirmation email that your address will be included in the program with a notification that your bill will be mailed to your address. You will need to pay your bill before a cart will be delivered. Again, you will only be billed for weekly residential yard waste pick-up after we have confirmed 3,500 residences have signed up in the selected area.

What areas of the county have been selected? 

The Curbside Yard Waste Pilot Program is only available for selected locations throughout the county. Please visit bit.ly/scyardwastemap and plug your address into the map to see if you're eligible for the program. If your address does not fall in the selected area, but you're interested in receiving potential yard waste services, please provide your information for the waitlist.

Why only specific areas of the county? 

This is a pilot program. We wanted to launch this in a way that will be the most efficient and affordable for the residents. By premiering this program in a dense geographic area, we can keep the program affordable to entice the most participants. If the program is successful, at a future date, it could be expanded out to less dense areas of the county. We are also accepting waitlist sign-ups to gather what other areas could potentially be of interest for residents.

How did this program come about? 

When the County solicited proposals for curbside collection services, we asked that potential contractors offer us a separate but integrated approach to opt-in services, targeting yard waste. A program for yard waste collection will help reduce the amount of those materials going to the landfill. The County selected Republic Services as the solid waste curbside collection contractor. Republic Services contract includes the potential to work with Spoil to Soil or other subcontractors to meet the County’s requirement of an opt-in yard waste program. While rolling out this opportunity has been challenging, we are on the threshold of launching a program, which is where you, our community, comes in! 

How can people sign up? 

Residents can sign up for the program by visiting bit.ly/scyardwasteform. Because we need 3,500 sign-ups to begin this residential program, we are treating sign-ups as a commitment. We understand that there can be extenuating circumstances, such as a resident moving, financial hardship, etc., but we ask that residents treat this as a commitment when they sign-up on the official page. 

What if residents are not ready to commit to the program, but want more information? 

If residents are not quite ready to sign up, but want more information, they can visit yardwaste.summitcounty.info to sign up to receive more information about the program via email. 

How will the yard waste be collected? 

The carts will be placed on the curb for weekly collection - just like residents’ normal trash bins! 

Can commercial or landscaping businesses sign up? 

No. This program is for residential yard waste only. Attempted sign-ups from commercial entities and/or landscaping businesses will be rejected.

Where will the yard waste go? 

Republic Services is planning to take the material to Spoil to Soil’s composting farm, in Peoa.  

Why not the Summit County landfill? 

This program creates a simple diversion plan to remove yard waste from the landfill. This gives us more air space (i.e. longer life and lower costs) and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from our landfills. 

I have more questions. Who can I talk to? 

If any resident is interested in the program or they have questions, they can email Republic Services at yardwastesummitcounty@republicservices.com.