13 14 Fencing and ornamental wood borders are not yard waste or recycling. Please dispose of them with your household garbage. OrganicLee® Compost Lee County takes two waste streams – shredded yard waste and processed biosolids from local wastewater treatment plants – and produces award- winning compost that is a popular soil amendment for Southwest Florida’s commercial and home growers. Some of the benefits of OrganicLee® compost are: • Improved soil structure and porosity – creating a better environment for plant root development • Increased organic matter in native soils • Improved moisture-holding capacity of light soils • Increased presence of beneficial microorganisms in soil and growing media OrganicLee® compost is available for purchase in bagged or bulk quantities. Please visit www.leegov. com/solidwaste or call our friendly customer service staff at 239-533-8000 for more details. Yard Waste Lee County’s sub-tropical climate provides for lush plant growth and lots of yard waste. Residents receive one curbside collection per week. Yard waste must be containerized (50 pounds or less), or securely tied into bundles no heavier than 50 pounds and no longer than six feet in length. Up to 50 pounds of unbundled palm fronds may be neatlystackedatthecurb.Anyexcesspalmfrondsmust be tied into bundles, each weighing 50 pounds or less. Call your waste hauler for a cost estimate for large- scale yard waste disposal projects. To determine the hauler for your area, please visit www.leegov.com/ solidwaste or call our friendly customer service staff at 239-533-8000. Skip the Bag! Yard waste is shredded for mulch and distributed at five locations around the county (see back cover for locations). It is also a primary component in OrganicLee® compost. Placing yard waste in a compostable paper bag, tub or reusable can rather than a plastic bag – • Reduces plastic waste • Leaves the yard waste ready for shredding and processing without time and labor spent separating plastic • Results in a cleaner finished product If you must use a plastic bag, please make sure that the contents can be easily identified by the hauler (leave a twig or small branch sticking out).