Curbside limb pickup available in areas hit by storms

(From the City of Joplin)

Following an assessment of the tree and limb damage caused by recent storms in Joplin, City officials are announcing that curbside limb pick up will be available in identified high-impacted areas. These residential areas south of I-44 include Silver Creek, Highlands, and Wild Wood.

Residents in these areas are asked to bring their tree limbs and branches to the curbside of their home’s main roadway. City crews will begin picking up the debris on Wednesday, September 10 and will continue this work through Wednesday, September 24, 2014. To aid in an efficient clean-up of the area, residents are asked to cut the limbs to a maximum of eight (8) feet and place them at the curb of their main road.

Curbside pickup does not allow City staff to enter private property to get the limbs however, for residents who cannot move or lift these trees and limbs, they may choose to sign a Right of Entry form allowing City crews and equipment to enter their property and assist in removing these downed trees and limbs.

The Right of Entry form is available at the Public Works Center, 1301 West 2nd Street between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, residents may also contact the City crews working in the area to receive a form, as they will have these forms with them also.

City residents in other areas with tree or limb damage are asked to please use one of the following options:

1. Citizens are welcome to bring their tree limbs and branches to the City’s tree limb processing site at 1702 North Schifferdecker Avenue. This site is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 2 through Saturday, September 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site will continue to be open next week, Monday, September 8 to Saturday, September 13 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The drop-off site is located six tenths of a mile north of Belle Center Road on the west side of Schifferdecker Avenue. This free drop off service is for Joplin residents only. Professional contractors will not be allowed to dump.

2. The City will also continue the monthly drop-off day at the Schifferdecker site on Saturday, September 20 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3. Joplin residents should also note that the City’s residential trash service through Republic Services allows yard waste removal on their regular trash pick-up day. Limbs must be cut to a maximum of four (4) feet and bundled. Bundles shall be no heavier than 50 pounds. The diameter of each tree limb shall be no larger than four (4) inches. For customer service, call Republic Services at 800-431-1507.

Normally, Joplin residents and landlords on the City’s residential trash service may bring tree limbs, branches, and brush, for a fee, to the Republic Services Transfer Station on Old Route 66, in Galena, Kansas. However due to the volume of damage from this storm, residents are asked to bring tree limbs to the City’s drop-off location.

For more information, call Mary Anne Phillips, City of Joplin Recycling Coordinator at 417-624-0820, ext. 501; Lynden Lawson, Assistant Director of Public Works for Operations at 417-624-0820, ext. 560; or the Public Works Center at 417-624-0820, ext. 564.