Upcoming curbside storm debris cleanup

After the storms on June 6, the city of Mount Vernon has organized curbside debris pickup services June 22-26. While this is not a regular service that the city offers, residents expressed the benefit of a curbside pickup after the storm damage in March of this year.

The city’s Public Works team must prioritize damage to public property, especially Mound View Cemetery (which sustained considerable damage), prior to beginning a route for community cleanup. To help city crews move quickly through neighborhoods, the cleanup will follow strict material guidelines and a tight collection window.

Crews will only pick up loose, storm-related yard waste.

●Accepted: Sticks, tree limbs, small branches, and twigs.

●Size limits: Limbs and branches must be under 4 inches in diameter.

●Not accepted: Leaves in bags, grass clippings, tree stumps, root balls, lumber, construction materials, trash, furniture, or fencing.

Leave debris completely loose. Do not bag your yard waste and do not tie it into bundles. Items that do not meet these rules or contain unapproved materials will be left behind.

The collection window is strictly limited to four days, running from Monday, June 22 through Friday, June 26. All storm debris must be placed on the curb prior to Monday, June 22.

City trucks will follow the standard leaf pickup schedule and will make exactly one single pass through each neighborhood. Because crews cannot backtrack once a street is completed, any debris not placed out before the June 22 deadline will not be collected.

Residents should pile debris neatly in the tree lawn or right-of-way area, which is the grassy strip between the sidewalk and the street. If your property does not have a grassy strip, please place the piles along the curb line without blocking the actual roadway, sidewalks, or drainage areas. To ensure city equipment and heavy trucks can safely access the piles, do not place debris near fire hydrants, utility poles, or mailboxes, and please remove parked vehicles from the street during this cleanup week. Additionally, all debris must be brought to the front street, as crews cannot drive large cleanup equipment down alleyways.

This specialized city service is strictly limited to branches under 4 inches in diameter. If you have larger tree limbs, heavy storm debris, or root balls that exceed these size requirements, you will need to arrange for private removal services. Alternatively, residents can haul larger items directly to the Knox County Yard Waste and Compost Facility located on Thayer Road, which is open and equipped to accept larger yard materials.

For questions regarding the cleanup route or guidelines, please call the Public Works Department at 740-393-9501 or email Questions@MtVernonOH.gov.