Ottumwa trash and recycling collection customers are reminded that curbside yard waste collection has started again. Southside Customers are collected on Tuesday, and Northside Customers are collected on Thursday. Call Bridge City Sanitation at 641-682-1700 to put your address on the list for collection.
While doing yard cleanup, residents are asked to help keep leaves out of the street. Leaves that end up in the gutter can very easily clog stormwater grates and result in street flooding.
Curbside collection is the most convenient method of disposing of yard debris. Any leafy debris and sticks may be disposed of in any compostable bag with the $1.00 green yard waste tag and are available at most grocery stores. Limbs must be cut in 36″ lengths and tied in bundles of less than 50 lbs. Yard waste may not be disposed of in your trash cart. Residents can also haul leaves to the Landfill for disposal at no cost. Also a reminder to residents to always have your garbage bagged when putting in your garbage container.
Yard waste like leaves and branches can be legally disposed of by burning in the City, if done without creating excessive smoke. The State Fire Code requires that outdoor fires must be under control and attended at all times. Adequate means for extinguishing must be readily available. If a complaint about the smoke is filed, the Ottumwa Fire Department will investigate the source, put out the fire and may issue a civil citation.
