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Yard Waste Collection Reduction

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and numbers may be misheard.

  • What: a mailed notice says yard waste pickup moves from weekly to every other week.
  • Where it stands: a resident objected to the notice method and asked for a pause; no council discussion in the Oct 13 recording.

From the approved minutes (May 28, 2026)

  • Agenda change: Mayor Gilbert pulled the January 1, 2027 grass collection ordinance from item RA1 (ORD-2026-054) because staff were still working with stakeholders and the current vendor on short-term options; Town Manager Vosburg preferred keeping the penalties and fees ordinance effective July 1, 2026. Council approved the amended agenda 4-0.
  • Vote: the ordinance amending Chapter 12 (bi-weekly schedule, limbs, contractor waste and enforcement), effective July 1, 2026, passed 3-1 on a motion by Zegerman, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mahaffey; Reese dissented and Gray was absent. Town Attorney Hohe said the second amendment (ending grass collection) was not a public hearing item and can return when staff have more information.
  • Staff presentation (Public Works Director Mullis): the vendor GFL would collect yard waste only in 95-gallon carts, with nothing loose such as brush or leaves, and has no guaranteed disposal site (it takes Morrisville's to Raleigh, whose fee rose from $45 to $55 per ton; Apex pays Harnett County about $40 per ton). Grass cycling is staff's preferred approach; a leaf vacuum clutch repair cost $3,500 because grass wears the machines, and the truck that replacement was meant to supplant is out of service. Raleigh is eliminating vacuum trucks, not abandoning carts. Roberson said mowing dry and raising the mower height addresses wet-grass concerns.
  • Council: Reese raised Historic District trees, downtown and school parking, and residents on fixed incomes, and read a resident's note about piles filling two parking spots. Mullis said most piles in the study were under 2 cubic yards, which carry no charge. Mu thanked staff for addressing grass clipping concerns. Council voted 4-0 to extend the meeting to 11:30 p.m.
  • Public forum: Gregorio said the retreat slides pointed the other way, showed no clear rising disposal cost and left regional cooperation unpursued, and asked Council to rethink. Wood urged keeping grass collection through containerization, getting the GFL outsourcing proposal first (citing about $1.55 per household monthly in Morrisville against in-house projections of $11.69 and $12.03) and delaying any fee increase or truck purchase. Kimberly Wood criticized unanswered emails. Kinsgrab objected to the plastic bins, curb hauling and truck fuel use.

Discussion time

About 4 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting Minutes
2026-10-13 - Town Council Meeting 4

Log

  • 2026-10-13 - Town Council Meeting — Public forum objection; resident says the mayor told him he opposes the cut.
  • 2026-09-22 - Town Council Meeting — Staff proposed ending grass clipping collection January 1, 2027 (no nearby processor; hauler will not accept grass); council asked for a 12-town comparison and cost analysis and continued the item to November 10 by a 4-1 vote.
  • 2026-09-17 - Environmental Advisory Board — Stormwater staff explained grass in storm drains is an illicit discharge that feeds algal blooms; she said she was not speaking for Public Works.
  • 2026-09-15 - Town Council Work Session — staff reported smooth rollout of pile-size rules, said no processor will take grass (Liberty Waste Solutions agreement covers all else), and previewed the September 22 ordinance ending grass collection January 1, 2027 and the move to 95-gallon carts; every-other-week collection starts October 19.
  • 2026-09-10 - Town Council Meeting — Council member asked for an update on grass clippings; staff said it is on the September 15 work session and September 22 agenda (from Whisper transcript).
  • 2026-08-25 - Town Council Meeting — Public forum speaker urged the council to halt the grass clippings change (from auto-captions).
  • 2026-05-28 - Town Council Meeting — Grass-elimination ordinance pulled; penalties and fees ordinance approved 3-1 (Reese dissenting); four public forum speakers opposed the direction.

Sources