The weekly curbside collection of residential compostables in the City of Ann Arbor resumes on Monday, April 4 on regular curbside trash collection days.

The compost program accepts yard trimmings such as leaves, plants, garden debris, twigs and branches up to six inches in diameter and four feet long. Ann Arbor residents using optional compost carts may also place grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, and uncoated paper plates, paper cups and napkins inside compost carts for municipal collection.

Residents may also use paper yard waste bags (available from local retailers) or city-approved compost carts (available for $50 each from the city’s Customer Service & Payment Center). Brush and tree limbs (up to six inches in diameter) may be tied into bundles up to 18 inches in diameter. Each bag or bundle of compostables has a maximum weight of 50 pounds.

Paper yard waste bags with food scraps or grass clippings are not allowed outside of a compost cart in order to avoid attracting wildlife, generating odors, or creating unsafe conditions from wet, overweight, or broken paper bags at the curb. The compost program does not accept plastic bags, trash, stones, dirt, sod, animal waste or logs over six inches in diameter.

Participating residents must place their compostables at the curb before 7 a.m. on their weekly waste collection day and allow at least three feet between each cart.

The city sells authorized, municipal 96-, 64-, and 35-gallon compost carts for a one-time price of $50 each (same price for any size). Residents may purchase compost carts from the city’s Customer Service Center & Payment Center (734-994-7336) during weekday business hours at 220 E. Huron, and pay by cash, check or credit card.

Sample carts may be viewed on curbsides around the city. An online summary of the city’s compost, recycling and trash cart collection options is posted at www.a2gov.org/carts.

For 24-hour information on the city’s compost operations, more details on the expanded fruit and vegetable materials accepted for seasonal collection, and compost cart sales, call 99-GREEN or view the city’s web site at www.a2gov.org/compost.

Nancy Stone is the Communications Liaison for Public Services at the City of Ann Arbor. She can be reached at nstone@a2gov.org. Visit www.a2gov.org for more information on local environmental topics including recycling, composting, water conservation, and choices for green living.

Your World provides local environmental information to our community. Contributing partners include: Washtenaw County’s Environmental Health Division; the nonprofit Recycle Ann Arbor; the City of Ann Arbor’s Public Services Area, Natural Area Preservation, Systems Planning programs for Energy, Environmental Coordination, Solid Waste, Transportation, and Water Resources.