RAPID CITY, SD—The City’s remote yard waste disposal sites at Fitzgerald Stadium at 2721 Canyon Lake Drive, and the West Boulevard North facility at 1117 Nickel St are set to open Monday, May 5. Curbside collection of yard waste is also set to begin for the season on that day.
City Solid Waste Division officials provide the following information regarding services that will be available at the sites, commencing May 5:
REMOTE DISPOSAL SITES: Remote yard waste containers will be available for disposing of yard waste at the Fitzgerald Stadium and West Boulevard North sites. The remote sites will also contain plastic and cardboard recycling containers. The dumping of trash or other items is prohibited at both sites. Yard waste, plastic and cardboard items must be placed inside the containers at the remote sites. These sites are to be used for residential purposes only. Commercial use is prohibited.
CURBSIDE SERVICE: Yard waste must be properly placed in the recyclable brown paper sacks and placed curbside on the day of curbside collection. Prohibited items include pet waste, dirt, sod, and rocks. Branches and sticks need to be bundled and tied up for collection. The bundles need to be under 25 pounds and under four feet in length. Large branches and tree limbs must be taken to the Fitzgerald Stadium or Landfill sites.
CARDBOARD: The remote sites provide containers for disposal of recyclable materials and clean cardboard items. The large blue containers are for recyclable items and the brown containers are for clean, corrugated cardboard items such as the brown boxes. Do not place shiny cardboard boxes in the recyclable or cardboard containers. Shiny cardboard has pictures on it like diaper boxes, TV boxes, shoe boxes, cereal boxes, etc. These are coated with a layer of plastic and should be placed in the trash.
POLLINATORS: Gardeners are advised to remove winter protection, such as mulch, when temperatures are consistent above freezing or when plants begin to sprout, Many experts advise waiting for temperatures to be consistently above 50 degrees before cutting back perennials, removing cover and disrupting soils due to hibernating insects.
RAPID CITY LANDFILL: The transfer site located at the entrance of the Landfill is open 24/7. The site provides containers for yard waste, newspaper, cardboard and mixed recycling items year-round. The dumping of trash or other items is prohibited. Commercial use is prohibited.
COMPOST FOR GRASS: The Rapid City Solid Waste Division offers compost for your spring lawn needs. The compost is comprised of city yard waste and little is done with the materials except adding water during the grinding process. With the amount of chemicals in the incoming waste, Solid Waste officials advise using the compost material only on grass. The material is available for a penny a pound and can be picked up Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m..
“With the nice weather, homeowners have started or will be starting spring cleaning inside their homes, including attics, basements and garages, as well as their yards,” said Solid Waste Outreach Coordinator Ria Hannon. “We want to remind them of the opening of the remote sites, and that curbside yard waste collection is starting up for the season. We also want to provide some helpful recycling reminders of common items like cardboard and how to dispose of different items around the home, such as paint, tires and other items.”
Hannon encourages the public to visit the Solid Waste website at www.rapidcityrecycles.org . This site includes a helpful ‘What Goes Where’ section including guidance on proper disposal of paint; automotive items such as antifreeze, oil, tires and batteries; cardboard and boxes; electronics; hazardous materials; sharps items and more. The site also provides a recycling section including ‘What Can I Recycle?’ with helpful hints on what can be placed in the blue recycling bins and containers; and a section entitled ‘Tips & Tricks’ with helpful reminders and facts.
For more information or with questions, contact the City’s Solid Waste Division at 605-355-3496.
