Leaf Collection
Leaf collection is scheduled every fall.  The beginning date changes from year to year based on weather but collection will generally start near the end of October.  The City will make continued passes through town until a majority of the leaves are collected or until snow falls.  Leaves must be raked to the curb lawn only and not into the street.   Leaves in the street cause a driving hazard, clog storm drains and contribute excess nutrient loading to Plum Creek.  The City does not collect leaves in the spring. Residents may use the yard waste collection for residual leaves (see below).

Brush Collection
Brush Collection Service is provided during one month in the spring and one month in the fall of each year.  Actual collection dates will be announced each season in the local newspaper and on cable television, channel 9.      

• Brush shall be cut to lengths no longer than six feet and neatly stacked at the curb.

• Limbs larger than six inches in diameter shall not be placed for City collection.

• Brush shall be free of wire, metal, stone, nails, rope, or other foreign materials.

• Stumps, brush with root balls, vines, non-woody yard wastes, unstacked brush, lumber or building materials will not be collected by the City.

• Brush resulting from tree removal or major trimming projects is the responsibility of the property owner.
   

The City reserves the right to not collect excessive amounts of brush.

Yard Waste
Yard waste includes grass clippings, weeds and other non-woody plant materials. During the growing season the City collects bagged yard waste on Mondays on a fee for service basis.  Residents must purchase yard waste tags for $1.00 each from the City Utility Office at 69 S. Main Street .  In order to efficiently collect yard waste, pick-up must be scheduled by calling 775-7218 no later than 5 p.m. on the preceding Friday.

Yard waste shall not be placed in containers with household refuse.

Holiday Tree Pick-up
Holiday trees will be collected at the curb during normal collection days, after Christmas through February. Trees need not be cut or bundled and should not be placed in plastic tree bags. All garlands and decorations, including the tree stand, must be removed.

Composting
Oberlin’s residents are encouraged to compost plant materials as a safe, cost-effective and useful alternative to municipal collection services.  Composting turns kitchen and yard waste into a nutrient-rich material you can use to improve plant growth in your garden and lawn, around trees and shrubs and in planting containers.  Compost improves soil health by returning organic matter to the soil. This loosens up soil for water and air to enter, improving root growth and reducing soil erosion. Organic matter increases nutrient availability in the soil.

How to compost:  About one-third of your household garbage can be composted. Collect kitchen scraps in a covered container. Put scraps in a pile or bin in your backyard as necessary. Turn the pile occasionally. The old pile will be fully composted in about 6 months. Place compost on your garden and lawn or around trees and shrubs.

Contact the Public Works Department at 775-7218 for a comprehensive guide to composting at home.

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RECYCLING IN OBERLIN

Residential Services
The City of Oberlin’s curbside source-separated recycling program is celebrating its eleventh year of providing free recycling collection services to Oberlin residents. This program is funded with a grant from the Lorain County Solid Waste Management District and matching local funds from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.

The City of Oberlin recycling program uses 5 gallon black buckets labeled with the City’s recycling logo for collection services.  These containers are available for free pick-up in the lobby of the municipal building at 69 South Main St.  Recycling brochures are available at both 69 South Main St. and 85 South Main St. or by calling the Public Works Department at 775-7218.  Residents may place unlimited amounts of properly prepared recyclable materials at the curb for collection. 

The City of Oberlin collects five categories of materials at curbside for recycling.  These are aluminum and steel cans, plastics #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE), glass containers, newspaper and corrugated cardboard.  The City’s 5 gallon buckets should be used to sort cans, plastics and glass.  The following rules apply:

General Guidelines:  Please use the City’s recycling containers (1) for metal cans, (1) for plastics and (1) for glass.  The City’s containers make it easy for staff to identify and empty recyclable materials into the truck.  If you have your own containers or need to use larger containers, please contact the Public Works Department for free recycling program labels to identify your recycling containers.  Please place recycling materials separately on your curb lawn from garbage.   Recycling collection is the same day as regularly scheduled refuse collection.

Other Recycling Tips:

Office Paper, Magazines, Newpaper:  These materials can be dropped off at any of the Paper Retriever dumpsters located at the Oberlin Public Schools. Please review the list of acceptable materials on the collection box.

Used Tires: Tire recycling is occasionally scheduled at the New Russia Township Service Garage, on Butternut Ridge Rd.  Please call the Township for specific dates and times.  Throughout the year, you may take tires to municipal service garages in Elyria, Lorain, and North Ridgeville, and Grafton Township Hall.  Please call ahead.

Household Hazardous Waste:  The Lorain County Solid Waste Management District sponsors an annual Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Day usually in late April or early May.  Call LCSWMD at 329-5440 for specific dates and times.  The following types of materials are accepted:  corrosives (acids, batteries, etc.), flammables (gasoline, paint, propane, etc.), reactives (pesticides, chlorine, etc.), and toxics (poisons, mercury, antifreeze, etc.). Please do not bring ammunition, medical waste, tires, or appliances. You may also call 1-800-HHW-LINE (1-800-449-5463) with questions.

Junk Mail:  2.1% of municipal solid waste is junk mail, over 2 million tons a year. To reduce your junk mail, write to: Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service, a free service established in 1971 to have your name removed from most national mailing lists for five years. Send your name and address to: MPS, c/o DMA, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008.