Yard waste pickup set to begin in March in Reading

Yard waste collection in Reading will begin March 24.

Pickup is limited to organic biodegradable materials such as leaves, hedge trimmings, leafy plants, small sticks and twigs.

Yard waste must be placed at the curb in brown biodegradable lawn and leaf bags. Tree branches must be bundled.

Yard waste bagged in plastic bags or with normal waste will not be collected.

The following waste also will not be collected: stumps, root balls, limbs larger than three inches in diameter, grass clippings, sod, stone, human-made materials and lumber.

The service is intended to collect material generated from minor tree pruning and maintenance. Branches less than 3 inches in diameter may be tied in bundles and secured with biodegradable twine.

All branch bundles must have butt ends placed in the same direction and placed where it is convenient for public works crews to pick them up. Brush piles that are badly tangled or inaccessible will not be picked up.

For tree removal or major landscaping, residents are asked to make arrangements with a contractor to remove the material.

Pickup days are as follows:

• Mondays: Northeast Reading and Hampden Heights neighborhoods.

• Tuesdays: South of Penn Street, east Reading, Hessian Camp and 18th Ward neighborhoods.

• Wednesdays: Northwest Reading, Northmont, Riverdale and Glenside neighborhoods.

When a holiday falls on a scheduled collection day, there will be no collection for that zone that week.

Holidays falling on a Sunday will be observed on Monday and there will be no collection for the Monday zones that week.

Residents are asked to call the streets division at 610-655-6285 or the call center at 1-877-727-3234 to schedule yard waste collection for their pickup day.

Yard waste collection can also be scheduled through the city’s 311 app, which can be downloaded for free for cell phones and other devices.

For more information, go to readingpa.gov/yard-waste.

Source: Berkshire mont