PROPER YARD WASTE
DISPOSAL TIPS SCHOOL CROSSING SAFETY
As the summer ends and leaves begin to
TREE MAINTENANCE fall, it is important to remember the
MOTORISTS
Early spring and late fall are ideal times to proper way to dispose of yard waste.
• Familiarize yourself with all local school
perform maintenance on trees and shrubs. Yard waste, including grass clippings,
areas and locations used by school
Homeowners are responsible for leaves, brush, and tree limbs
NEVER should be:
children.
maintenance of trees and shrubs that are Placed in the
• Obey all school crossing controls and be
located within private property that street or near storm drans, ditches, creeks
particularly alert near any school area.
encroaches on public right-of-way as well as or rivers. They can clog storm sewers and
• Watch your speed in school zones.
any trees and shrubs growing in the right-of- culverts and cause flooding! Also, decaying
• Respond immediately to any pedestrian
way. To prevent potentially hazardous yard waste uses the oxygen in the water,
accident, regardless of severity, by
situations, the minimum vertical clearance causing streams to become unsightly,
providing first aid if necessary and calling
of trees and shrubs must be eight feet (8’) harming aquatic plants and wildlife, and
emergency services.
between the surface of the sidewalk or causing foul odors.
pedestrian way and the lowest branch.
SCHOOLS
Additionally, the minimum vertical
Many of us don’t realize that what we do • Instruct children on pedestrian safety,
clearance of trees and shrubs shall be
affects downstream neighborhoods, stream bicycle safety, and bus safety.
fourteen feet (14’) between the surface of
habitats, and water quality. While trash and • Develop a school route plan with
the street and the lowest branch. If you
litter is unsafe and unsightly, inappropriate transportation engineers.
have questions regarding pruning or
disposal of yard waste can be equally
maintenance of trees and shrubs please
damaging to the environment and property!
contact your local nursery or the Public
I
t is time to begin thinking about school
• Periodically review routes with special
crossing safety as West Des Moines
attention given to conditions such as
students return to school in August.
unsafe sidewalks, trees or bushes that
Works Department at 222-3480.
Currently, there are 37 school crossings
obscure vision, and the need for speed
Here’s how to properly dispose of
that serve 14 schools within the City of
limit enforcement.
KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS your yard waste:
West Des Moines.
BEAUTIFUL Mulch. You can use grass clippings and
Cooperation between parents,
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AT THE
Residents in every area of West Des leaves, whole or shredded, as winter or
students, motorists, schools, and public
CITY THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY AND
Moines exhibit great pride in our spring mulch in your garden or around
safety and engineering departments is
ENGINEERING
neighborhoods, and have welcomed efforts perennial plants to reduce injury from
crucial to the safety of children as they
• Instruct students on the safest way to
to “keep it clean and tidy” that freezes and smother emerging weeds.
walk to and from school. Each group has
cross streets.
also serve to protect our environment.
a unique responsibility for maintaining
Mow.
• Provide training and supervision of
If there are less than two
safe routes to schools for children.
Separating solid waste, recyclables, and yard
crossing guards.
inches of leaves covering your
waste is the best solution, and it’s getting
lawn, you can leave them in place and PARENTS
• Respond to emergency situations
easier all the time, with carts for each
• Investigate and make recommendations
make several passes over them with a • Determine your child’s safest route to
category at every single family residence.
on requests received from school
lawnmower. By shredding them into a fine, school.
administrators and the engineering
thin layer, you will provide your grass with • Walk your children along this route
CARTS: Residents are reminded that
division.
valuable nutrients and end up with a lawn several times prior to the start of fall
as good neighbors, toter carts should
• Assist in the development of a school
that looks like it was just raked. classes and emphasize proper
be stored out of sight from the street.
route plan.
procedures for crossing the streets.
Whether it means placing the cart in
Compost It! Rake and bag your leaves
• Investigate and make recommendations
• When dropping off your children,
the garage, fencing, or an enclosure,
for pickup. Always use Compost-It yard
on requests for school traffic control
unload on the school side of the street
many citizens have been creative about
waste bags or store brand yard waste bags
measures.
or where your child can cross the street
finding the right solution for their home in
with a Compost-It sticker on each bag.
• Respond to inquiries regarding school
at a designated crosswalk.
keeping the carts from public view.
traffic controls and develop a
BRUSH. Brush, tree limbs, and branches
STUDENTS maintenance program for all traffic
can be bundled in a maximum of 4-foot
• Use established school routes controls.
Thank you for helping to keep
lengths, 18 inches in diameter, not exceeding
• Participate in bike, pedestrian, and bus
West Des Moines beautiful! 40 pounds. Bundles are picked up the same
If you have requests for school crossing
safety programs provided by your
controls you may visit our website at
day as bagged yard waste. Be sure to attach
school.
www.wdm-ia.com and navigate to
a Compost It! sticker to each bundle.
• Practice safe and proper pedestrian
Forms under Your Government - Public
behavior at all times.
Works to download a School Crossing
Control Request form.
16 WDMMAGAZINE • SUMMER/FALL 09 Visit us on the web at www.wdm-ia.com Visit us on the web at www.wdm-ia.com SUMMER/FALL 09 • WDMMAGAZINE 17
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