By Rebecca Dopp
Times-News Correspondent
Where can one put their grass clippings, branches, or other plant life? Not in the garbage can with residential garbage, says JRDA (Juab Rural Development Agency).
Mona City residents received a reminder in the mail that stated no grass clippings, limbs or plant life to be put in residential garbage cans. It needs to be taken out to the landfill separately and not mixed with household garbage.
Council member Cody Adams said he had brought this issue up at the last JRDA meeting. He said the JRDA was having some budget concerns and that is why the issue came up.
“As long as we can keep the yard waste separate,” he said, “it doesn’t count as average tonnage that we are doing.”
He said that the landfill is getting to a point where they are close to cresting over the average tonnage which would put it into a different classification of landfill.
“Once we hit that classification, it’s going to be an extremely expensive conversion because we have to go to all kinds of liners,” Adams said. “They’re just trying to prolong that process so they can get through the next couple of years. When people add unnecessary garbage to their garbage, it multiplies the problem.”
Council member Harry Newell said they had once talked about having a mulch pile for residents to take their waste to, but Gordon Anderson, council member, said that would turn into a big garbage dump.
Council member Frank Riding suggested one large container for citizens to put their yard waste in, but Anderson said it would still collect regular garbage and defeat the purpose.
Council member Phillip Bandley said he thought the easiest thing to do was have residents take their own yard waste out to the landfill.
On Juab County’s website, the JRDA policies state that separation of solid waste is required. It lists what is considered the different classifications:
Household waste—waste resulting from household activities; Construction and demolition waste—waste resulting directly from construction and/or demolition activities; Green waste—limited to plant waste resulting from yard cleanups. Does not include plastics, metals, milled lumber of any kind, furniture, electronics, metal, manufacturing waste, household waste, cardboard, buckets, etc.; Metals—steel, aluminum, copper, brass, etc.
No liquids (fuels, oils, etc.) or hazardous waste accepted.
Operating hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. year round, Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays. The access gate is locked during non-operating hours. Dumping solid waste anywhere outside an authorized landfill is prohibited by law. Violations punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail term up to 6 months.
