The Perry City Council devoted about one-third of Monday night’s 90-minute meeting to a vigorous discussion of the annual open-burning season.
After weighing the arguments and the options, the council voted four to one to allow the usual three-week window for fall burning from Monday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 20.
Prior to spring 2016, the Perry City Council permitted the open burning of yard waste twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The in-town burning of yard waste in the spring was last allowed in 2015 from April 1 to May 31.
At the urging of then-Perry City Council member Phil Stone, the council first prohibited spring burning in 2016 and also narrowed the window for fall burning to about three weeks. A similar schedule has been approved yearly since 2016. A complete ban on open burning has repeatedly been proposed but never approved by the city council.
Perry residents have the following options for disposing of yard waste:
Curbside yard waste collection
Yard waste will be collected curbside on the following dates for the remainder of 2022:
- Sept. 21, North side of Willis Avenue
- Sept. 28, South side of Willis Avenue
- Oct. 5, North side of Willis Avenue
- Oct. 12, South side of Willis Avenue
- Oct. 19, North side of Willis Avenue
- Oct. 26, South side of Willis Avenue
- Nov. 2, North side of Willis Avenue
- Nov. 9, Week of Veterans’ Day – No yard waste pickup
- Nov. 16, South side of Willis Avenue
- Nov. 23, Week of Thanksgiving – No yard waste pickup
- Nov. 30, North side of Willis Avenue
- Dec. 7, South side of Willis Avenue (Final)
Residents are reminded that all yard waste except tree, bush or brush materials are to be placed in biodegradable paper yard waste bags, with a maximum weight of 40 pounds, and set near the street curb in front of the residence.
No garbage containers, plastic bags or cardboard boxes are allowed.
All tree, bush and brush materials are to be bundled and tied in maximum lengths of four feet, with a maximum weight of 40 pounds, and set near the street curb in front of the residence.
To assure prompt pickup, place your yard waste at the curb by 7 a.m.
Yard waste collection site
The city of Perry offers a site for brush drop-off for city residents only. The site is located next to the city recycling center at 14320 Ivy Place. Non-resident drop-offs are not accepted. Private contractor drop-offs are not accepted. All license plates will be recorded to check for illegal non-city residents’ use of the brush drop-off. An illegal dumping fine of $500 minimum will be administered to anyone who dumps and is not a resident of the city of Perry or who disposes of any items not allowed. There will be
no warnings.
Items allowed
- Tree limbs less than 8 feet long
- Shrubs and bushes
- Garden waste
- Yard waste- leaves and lawn clippings (biodegradable bags are okay)
Items Not Allowed
- Stumps with root-balls
- Limbs longer than 8 feet
- Construction materials
- Concrete, bricks and dirt
- Plastic bags
- Garbage, furniture, appliances and other household waste
The yard waste drop-off site is monitored and recorded by security cameras.
Open Burning Monday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 20
The period for the legal open burning of yard waste will begin Monday, Oct. 31 and end Sunday, Nov. 20.
All burning must take place between the hours of 10 a.m. and sundown.
Burning is restricted to private property, must take place in the rear of the property and must be supervised at all times.
All burning must take place at least 30 feet from any building inhabited by persons other than the landowner or tenant who is doing the open burning.
The city of Perry encourages residents to find alternative methods to open burning for yard waste disposal.
Safety tips for open burning
- Never use gasoline, kerosene or any other flammable liquid to start the fire.
- Do not leave a fire unattended.
- Have fire extinguishment materials on hand, including a water supply, shovels and rakes.
- Be prepared to extinguish your fire if the wind picks up.
- Do not delay a call for help. Call the Perry Volunteer Fire Department immediately at the first sign of the fire getting out of control.
For more information, call the Perry City Hall at 515-465-2481.
