Monroe’s temporary Winter Storm Fern debris exception no longer applies to newly generated yard waste. For new leaves, grass, limbs or tree work, use the normal preparation limits, identify who produced the material, and confirm the active collection or disposal route before placing anything in the right-of-way.
The City’s standard service includes limited weekly yard-waste collection. It does not include every trunk, contractor pile, bulky item, construction material or over-limit set-out.
Date the debris before classifying it
The City’s March 25 notice says it had identified the remaining Winter Storm Fern debris for final cleanup. It also says newly generated waste and fresh tree cutting had returned to normal rules.
Record:
- address and City-service status;
- when and how the material was generated;
- whether a resident or contractor produced it;
- material type;
- dimensions, approximate quantity and safe photographs;
- current collection day and route source; and
- confirmation reference for anything outside ordinary limits.
Do not label later landscaping debris “storm debris” to obtain a different service. The date and producer affect the route.
Use the restored preparation limits
The notice says new leaves and grass must be bagged. Limbs must be cut and stacked, and each limb must stay within all three published limits:
- no more than four feet long;
- no more than six inches in diameter; and
- no more than 50 pounds.
The City’s refuse ordinance separately describes once-weekly yard-waste collection not exceeding two cubic yards, subject to Section 16-19 preparation requirements or departmental policy.
A pile can contain individually compliant limbs and still exceed the service quantity. This article does not convert a visual pile into cubic yards. Ask Public Works how it wants the quantity measured and where a compliant pile belongs.
Separate the producer and material lanes
| Lane | Public record says | Confirm before set-out or haul |
|---|---|---|
| Resident leaves/grass | Bag new material | Bag type, quantity, placement and collection day |
| Resident limbs | Cut and stack within each limb limit | Total quantity and placement |
| Contractor tree work | Contractor removes large trunks and over-limit trimming debris | Disposal destination, load and contract responsibility |
| Over-limit yard waste | Not ordinary standard service; City may address extra service | Whether offered, written charge and timing |
| Bulk items | Excluded from standard service | Current separate route, if any |
| Construction or prohibited material | Excluded from standard and extra service in the cited ordinance | Lawful specialized destination |
The ordinance lists furniture, mattresses, appliances, televisions, plumbing fixtures, construction materials and hazardous waste among materials excluded from both standard and extra service. Do not hide a fixture, treated material, demolition debris or chemical container inside yard waste.
When the material is unknown or potentially hazardous, leave it undisturbed if safe and ask the responsible authority for handling instructions.
Standard service and extra service are different decisions
Ordinance 12,285 defines standard residential service as weekly curbside refuse collection using a City-issued receptacle plus the limited weekly yard-waste route. For billing periods on or after May 1, 2026, it lists a $28 monthly standard residential service charge and a $2 monthly rental per City-issued receptacle.
The two cited rows total $28 + $2 = $30 per month before any reduced rate, other utility charge, penalty, extra service or unlisted amount. This is not a disposal quote.
For material outside standard quantities or placement, the ordinance says Public Works may, but is not required to, provide extra service. It says the property owner can be billed the actual service and disposal cost. Obtain the decision, scope, amount or calculation method, and scheduled action in writing before assuming a pile will be removed.
A named drop-off is a lead, not acceptance
The March notice names two local drop-off locations for trees and noncompliant yard waste. It does not provide current hours, fees, vehicle rules, residency rules, material screening or a guarantee that either facility will accept a particular load.
Use the City notice as the source, then ask the facility directly on the day of the trip:
- exact material and producer;
- dimensions and estimated quantity;
- contaminants such as soil, wire, treated wood or construction debris;
- vehicle/trailer type and unloading method;
- identification or proof of residency;
- fee and payment method; and
- hours and last-load time.
Write down the confirmation name or reference. Do not drive a load based only on an old search result.
Do not use the visible 2025 calendar for 2026
The current sanitation page identifies the Garbage and Trash Divisions, routes comments and complaints to Public Works, and provides a container-request path. Its visible holiday schedule is labeled 2025 and includes an early-2026 New Year’s entry; that is not enough to establish an August 2026 collection day.
For the current week, confirm the address route, normal day, holiday shift and placement deadline. Save the current notice or service reference with photographs of a compliant set-out.
Preserve the response if the pile remains
If material is not collected, do not keep adding to it. Record the first set-out date, material, preparation, quantity, location and missed-service report. Ask which condition prevented collection and what lawful correction is required.
The ordinance provides notice, penalty and appeal steps for violations. A complaint receipt is not a ruling; a written violation is not the end of the appeal period. Keep every dated notice and response rather than relying on a phone summary.
Sources and method
Local Service Ledger compared the March 2026 storm-debris notice, May-effective refuse ordinance and current sanitation page as accessed August 8, 2026. The matrix keeps material, producer and service decisions separate and deliberately excludes the page’s outdated holiday calendar from current scheduling claims.