Erie's Bureau of Refuse and Recycling operates a citywide yard-waste composting program covering grass clippings, lawn and leaf waste, and hedge trimmings. Yard waste must be placed in open rigid containers, compost-friendly plastic bags, or brown paper bags at curbside; no item may be set out more than 24 hours before the collection day per Article 951. Leaf collection runs each fall (typically early October through early December). Raking leaves into the street and bagging pet waste or cat litter with leaves are both prohibited. PA Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.101 et seq.) authorizes the program at the state level.
Yard waste is collected separately from regular refuse under Erie's Recovery Program implementing PA Act 101 (53 P.S. §4000.101 et seq.); Act 101 specifically encourages diversion of leaf and yard waste from landfill disposal, and Erie's Bureau of Refuse and Recycling operates a composting program that accepts grass clippings, lawn and leaf waste, and hedge trimmings. Acceptable curbside containers are: (1) open rigid containers (the same rigid, rust-resistant, watertight 3-35-gallon receptacles used for refuse under Article 951, with the lid off so workers can verify contents); (2) compost-friendly (paper-based or certified compostable) plastic bags; or (3) brown paper yard-waste bags (the standard 30-gallon kraft paper bags sold at hardware stores). The City strictly prohibits raking leaves into streets - the rationale published by the Bureau is twofold: wet leaves create slippery road conditions hazardous to cars, motorcycles, cyclists, and pedestrians, and dry leaves under parked cars can ignite from hot catalytic converters. Residents must not park over piled leaves in the street. The Bureau also bans co-bagging pet waste or used cat litter with yard waste because contamination ruins the compost product. Fall leaf collection is announced annually by the Bureau (in past years running early October through early December, with extensions when storms delay routes). Christmas trees are typically picked up free in early January by separate Bureau routes. Burning leaves is regulated by PA DEP under 25 Pa. Code §129.14 and is generally prohibited within the City of Erie under Article 521 (Fire) provisions.
Co-mingling yard waste with regular refuse, raking leaves into the cartway, or bagging pet waste with leaves draws Article 1129 Quality of Life tickets at $100 per occurrence from the Bureau of Code Enforcement or the Bureau of Refuse and Recycling. Pushing leaves into the street may also create separate scattering-rubbish exposure under 18 Pa.C.S. §6501 ($50-$300 first offense plus 5-30 hours mandatory cleanup, third-degree misdemeanor for subsequent offenses) and storm-drain obstruction liability under the Allegheny Coast/Lake Erie MS4 stormwater program administered by Erie County. Open burning of leaves within the City limits is enforced by Erie Fire under state code.
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See how Erie's yard waste collection rules stack up against other locations.
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