Why does yard and garden waste have to be placed on the terrace and can’t be placed in the street?

The primary reason for keeping yard waste off the roadway surface is storm water protection.  When rainwater flows through yard waste sitting in the road, the water is contaminated with high levels of phosphorus.  Contaminated water then drains into storm sewers which empty into local creeks, streams, rivers, and the Bay of Green Bay.  Phosphorous promotes algae growth and depletes oxygen content for aquatic life.  Water running through yard waste sitting on grass has a much higher chance of soaking into the ground and not getting into natural waterways.  Wisconsin DNR and federal EPA rules require the City of Green Bay to maintain programs to improve natural water quality.  The no-leaves-in-the-street ordinance is one of those programs.  Failure on the part of the City to enforce stormwater protection rules results in penalties imposed by the state in the form of fines and state/federal aid reductions.  Reduced revenue from other sources means that the City must raise property tax assessments to balance the budget.

City of Green Bay Municipal Code (Chapter 32) requires solid waste to be placed only on property one owns, controls, or leases until collected.  Yard and garden waste is defined in Municipal Code as solid waste.  Yard waste must be placed on the terrace which (although is roadway right-of-way) is property under control of the adjacent property owner.  DPW asks residents to do their part to maintain Green Bay’s compliance with stormwater protection laws.

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1. How do I report a parking violation?
2. How do I pay a parking ticket/citation?
3. What is the wheel tax?
4. How do I report long grass?
5. What ordinance governs long grass and/or weeds in the City of Green Bay?
6. What is the maximum length of a lawn before it violates the ordinance?
7. What if my neighbors are repeatedly not cutting their lawn? Do I have to call every time?
8. What if the grass is too long in the back yard? Can I report that?
9. What consequences exist if I or my neighbor(s) don’t cut our lawn and the City cuts it?
10. What is the process for getting my neighbor to cut their lawn?
11. Why does yard and garden waste have to be placed on the terrace and can’t be placed in the street?
12. If yard and garden waste is not allowed in the street, why can DPW place it in the street when collecting?
13. Who is responsible for repair of terrace grass damaged by DPW during the yard and garden waste collection process?
14. Why doesn’t DPW collect yard and garden waste in one day’s route before going to the next day’s route?
15. Why do residents need to separate grass/leaves from brush and other yard waste when placing it at the curb?
16. If DPW uses sanitation collection maps for yard and garden waste collection routing, why isn’t yard waste collected on the same day as trash and recycling?
17. Why can’t DPW advertise in advance what specific streets yard and garden waste will be collected each day so residents can plan clean-up efforts accordingly?
18. Why is a round of east side yard and garden waste collection typically completed before a west side round?
19. What is Green Bay’s snow plowing policy?
20. Why does my driveway apron get more snow pushed into it than my neighbor’s driveway?
21. How is snow-pack and ice on residential streets supposed to melt if Green Bay does not use salt on residential streets?
22. Why are residents required to shovel their sidewalk, but not their driveway?
23. Why is the City allowed to plow street snow onto my driveway apron?
24. The snow plow damaged my mailbox. Who is responsible for fixing it?
25. The snow pack is building up on my street, and it’s slippery and bumpy. What can be done?
26. Can I get salt on my residential street to melt the snow pack and ice?
27. My neighbor is shoveling and snow blowing snow in the street. Is this legal?
28. Does salt brine rust cars faster than rock salt?