brush

The Brush Collection program for 2016 has neared its end. Next week will be the final collection for the season.

Piles of brush are to be at the curb on Monday morning, September 26. Street Department crews will work uninterrupted to get through the City quickly making only one trip down each street. This collection is anticipated to be completed within one week. Brush piles are to be trash-free and away from utility poles, fire hydrants or trees. If vehicles are parked in front of brush piles the street crew cannot pick up the pile.

Mayor Jeremy Stutsman stated, “We remind those who have trimming tasks to do yet this season that they will want to accomplish it by Sunday evening. A big thank you to each household who has planned its brush clean-up throughout this past summer in time for a prompt removal by our Street Department. Also, numerous brush heaps have been observed in alleyways. Residents will want to move those piles to the curb this weekend so the street crews can remove them in this final round; no piles will be collected from the alleys.”

Remember, the City of Goshen is not responsible for disposal of large tree limbs and debris from a home owners or contractors taking down a tree on their property. This is beyond the scope of normal yard waste.

For brush accumulations through Friday, October 28, the Street Department will have Dial-a-Trailers available for overnight use to dispose of brush. The trailers may be pre-arranged by calling 534.9711, and there is no charge for this service.

Brush piles not disposed of next week during brush collection or in October, until the 28th, through the use of a Street Department trailer become the responsibility of the property owner for disposal. Once next week’s collection is complete, priority moves to the collection of leaves (and possibly snow)—two very different tasks due to their process and final destination.

Leaf collection details will be announced through the local media as the season progresses.

On a related matter, each year, in the early autumn weeks, City offices receive calls from disgruntled residents who have trees that drop leaves early. They have their bagged leaves to be collected by the rubbish collection company, as they believe they should be. However, they find that the bags have been left at the curb by Republic Services. To prevent frustration we remind everyone that leaves mixed in with garbage for collection by Republic Services are not taken at any time of year.

For those who find themselves with yard waste beyond collection weeks, the Environmental Center, located near the intersection of Indiana Avenue and County Road 19, is free to Goshen residents and is open 52 weeks a year. April–November, their hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.–noon; December–March, their hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. The Environmental Center is closed on Sundays and holidays. The Center accepts brush and leaves, loose or in bags, at no charge to City residents. However, if bagged, the bags must be emptied.