What to know on Springfield's yard waste drop-off, pick-up programs. Pumpkin smash returns

The city of Springfield’s yard waste drop-off program at Evans Recycling, 2100 J. David Jones Pkwy., begins Monday.

The city also starts its "no sticker" bi-weekly curbside yard waste and leaf pick-up.

On Saturday, the popular pumpkin smash returns downtown.

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Yard waste drop-off

Residents within the corporate limits of Springfieldcan drop off their yard waste for free through Dec. 10. After that, the fee to drop off will be $1 per bag.

Yard waste is composed of grass clippings, leaves, weeds, plant trimmings and/or small twigs and branches. No plastic bags can be used, and yard waste must be free of contamination including food, rocks, dirt, large branches, flowerpots and trays, animal droppings and or other waste.

Proof of residency is required by showing your complete City Water, Light & Power bill.

Hours of drop off are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Curbside yard waste pick-up

The curbside yard waste and leaf pick-up through Republic Servicesstarts in the south zone.

That area is south of South Grand Avenue and Old Jacksonville Road, including residential properties around Lake Springfield.

Bags must be placed curbside by 6 a.m. and should not be placed on boulevards.

An interactive map and pick-up schedule are available on the city's website.

Pumpkin smash returns

The environmentally-friendly pumpkin smash was held for the first time last year.

Participants can chuck, smash or stomp their pumpkins in designated zones on Washington Street between Fifth and Sixth streets from 1 to 4 p.m.

Evans Recycling will haul away the remains for composting, keeping it out of landfills.

The pumpkins can be decorated or undecorated or carved or uncarved, but candles, plastics and synthetic material should be removed from the gourds.

According to AgriNews, pumpkins are grown on nearly 11,000 acres in Illinois. The news organization that covers Illinois and Indiana stated that almost 80% of pumpkin acres are devoted to pie filling or other processing uses,

Logan County is among the top 10 pumpkin-producing counties in Illinois.

Participation is free, but waiver must be signed before entering the "smash zone" and those under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present to sign the waiver.

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Branch pick-up

The Office of Public Works' next curbside branch pick-up begins Nov. 7.

The first of the four collections begin with the northwest quadrant, an area north of South Grand Avenue and Old Jacksonville Road and west of Walnut Street/J. David Jones Parkway.

Branch piles should be no larger than three feet in height, four feet in depth, and 10 feet in length. No firewood or precut logs will be accepted. Smaller branches can be broken up and put into yard waste bags for curbside pick-up.

Branches must be placed curbside by 7 a.m. on Monday of the area’s pick-up week.

For more information, visit the Public Works website.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, [email protected], twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield, IL, yard waste drop-off, curbside pick-up programs return