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Public Service Newsletter
Mosquito Control
Sanitation Holiday Schedule
Lawn Care Water Conservation Tips
Environmental friendly
alternatives to
loose leaf and bagged leaf
collection
Last year our town generated approximately 13,355 tons of solid waste associated with the collection of loose leaves, bagged leaves and bagged grass. Of that 13,355 tons 12,473 tons where sent to a landfill and 882 tons where composted. Bagging these materials and placing them into the curbside garbage collection system uses valuable landfill space, removes nutrients from the environment, and costs the Town and citizens more in increased taxes and service fees.
Of the landscape waste, approximately half is composed of tree leaves. Mulching is a simple and effective way to recycle leaves and improve your landscape. A light covering of leaves can be mowed, without the catch-bag, leaving shredded leaves in place on the lawn. This technique is most effective when a mulching mower is used.
During times of light leaf drop, or if there are only a few small trees in your landscape, this technique is the most efficient and easiest way to manage leaf accumulation. As organic mulch decomposes, valuable nutrients are released for use by landscape plants. The tree leaves that accumulate in and around a landscape represents a valuable natural resource that can be used to provide a good source of organic matter and nutrients for use in a landscape.
Leaves contain 50-80% of the nutrients a plant extracts from the soil and air during the growing season. Leaves may be collected and worked directly into garden and flowerbed soils. A 6-8 inch layer of leaves tilled into a heavy, clay soil will improve aeration and drainage. The same amount tilled into a light, sandy soil will improve water and nutrient holding capacity. In vegetable gardens and annual planting beds, collect and work leaves into the soil during the Fall. This allows sufficient time for the leaves to decompose prior to Spring planting.
For additional information call the Public Services Department at (901) 853-3215
The Memphis and Shelby County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility is now open for the public.
Days and hours of Operation
Tuesday and Saturday
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
more information
Household Garbage
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Household garbage must be placed in the Green cart (kitchen, bathroom, personal and/or indoors-type wastebasket trash) to be picked up. Garbage on top of the cart lid or beside the cart will not be picked up. Propping the lid up is acceptable if the garbage is bagged, but cart cannot be overflowing.
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Items such as bagged grass, bagged leaves, boxes, branches, boards, carpet, metal, will not be collected by the Automated Truck (Green cart). Other trucks will pick up these items on your regular collection day.
Improper Disposal of Hazardous Materials leads to Toxic Fumes from Garbage Truck.
September 5, 2007
On Wednesday, September 5, 2007 the driver of an automated garbage truck running his scheduled route in the area of Gunnison Cove in Collierville noticed smoke and an odor coming from his load. The drivers supervisor and the Collierville Fire Department where immediately notified. After an inspection of the load was performed by the Collierville Fire Department the truck was cleared to transport the load to the Public Services Complex where the load was discharged onto the pavement in an area where the public would not be in danger.
The load, still smoking and having a strong chemical odor, was spread out and wetted by the Fire Department. During this process a damaged and partially opened 5 gallon metal pail labeled as “exposed aggregate sealer” was noted, its content residue having an odor as described above.
This is the third instance this year of hazardous materials being mixed into household garbage and is quickly becoming an all too often occurrence. Common "off the shelf " household chemicals may not seem to pose a serious hazard by and of them selves, but when disposed of improperly can become very dangerous. When disposed of with household garbage these chemicals are introduced to other materials they are not compatible with resulting in toxic fumes, fire or explosions. This is not only hazardous to the safety of the Town’s employees and citizens but is also a danger to the environment.
One of the most common and dangerous household chemicals is granular chlorine and other chlorine based pool products. Chlorine is a strong oxidizing agent that when exposed to moisture, garbage, dirt and /or other pool chemicals can generate large amounts of heat resulting in hazardous gases, fire and explosion.
Please read the manufacturers labels and be aware of the proper disposal procedures for hazardous materials. For more information on the disposal of hazardous waste please contact the Shelby County Environment Improvement Commission at 379-4430.
For a list of what we can and cannot pick up please see our Sanitation Guidlines
© 2006
The Town of Collierville
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The
Town of Collierville does not discriminate on the basis
of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability in
its hiring
and employment practices, or in admission to, access to,
or operation of its programs, services, and activities pursuant
to Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 200d) and the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L 101-336.
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