Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Lifting of yard waste ban extended by DNREC thru Sept. 10;
burning of trees and limbs from hurricane also considered

DOVER (Sept. 2, 2011) – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has extended the lifting of a statewide yard waste ban through Saturday, Sept. 10 to help Delawareans cleaning up from Hurricane Irene who are finding it difficult to dispose of downed trees and fallen limbs. DNREC will also consider, on a case-by-case basis, applications for burning yard waste associated with the hurricane until October 1, when the annual statewide open burning ban expires. 

Approvals for burning will be based on a review of exceptional circumstances and hardships faced by landowners in disposing of their yard waste. Burn approvals will be prioritized and allowed in a manner that minimizes air quality impacts.

Delawareans are still encouraged to keep their yard waste separated from household trash and to take it to a Delaware Solid Waste Authority facility, yard waste drop-off site, or to a private company that accepts yard waste in order to preserve land fill space and to provide valuable material to the mulch and composting industries. 

However, as a vigorous effort continues to clean up the state from Hurricane Irene, residents should be aware that they may put yard waste in with their household trash for disposal until Sept. 10. (Please note that residents who live in municipalities that already have a separate yard waste collection program should continue to use that service rather than put their storm debris in with their household trash. Also, DNREC’s yard waste drop-off sites in New Castle County; the Polly Hill Drummond site and DART Mid-County site, will continue to operate on regular schedules, and will be open Labor Day.)

Questions on the temporary lifting of the yard waste ban can be answered by DNREC’s Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Section by calling 302-739-9403 or by the Delaware Solid Waste Authority at 1-800-404-7080. For a list of yard waste drop off facilities, go to http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/whs/awm/Recycling/Documents/Yard_Waste_Drop-off_Sites.pdf. For more information about open burning, please contact DNREC’s Division of Air Quality at 302-739-9402.

Vol. 41, No. 338