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-Notes courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch
Andy Perkinson, Director of Operations for the City of Henderson was the speaker for the most recent West End Community Watch meeting held September 17.
The City Operations Department is responsible for water, sewer, sanitation, recycling, litter pick-up, storm drains, cemeteries and maintaining the city utility vehicles. Also, this department is charged with responding to 811 calls before someone digs on private property.
There are 52 employees and more are needed. There are only three leaf-shredder trucks for the entire city.
The old pipes in the city are a major challenge. The department cares for 280 miles of water pipes and 230 miles of sewer pipes.
It costs the city to recycle, but recycling is still encouraged because it keeps trash out of the landfill. Our landfills are filling up and, in the future, we may run out of places to take our trash and it will then go into the oceans. Sadly, only 19% of Henderson’s customers recycle.
Perkinson reminded everyone not to put yard debris in the recycling containers.
Leaves must be bagged in clear plastic bags, except when the shredders are picking them up. Clear plastic is required so employees can see that only leaves are in the bag. Bags are sold at the City Operations’ Center at a nominal fee.
The plastic bags cannot be taken by the debris truck; instead, the bags are emptied and put into garbage carts.
Yard debris and brush are picked up on the same day as garbage but by different trucks. Limbs cannot be longer than four feet. Also, there is a 200lb maximum. If the debris weighs more, a $75 minimum fee is charged.
Building materials are not accepted. Paint can be recycled on a special day that is well-publicized each year. Plastic grocery bags need to be returned to the store and not put in the recycle bin. Fluorescent light bulbs should be wrapped and put in the garbage.
Grass clippings are currently being picked up, but North Carolina law states they should not be collected. The state requires that grass be mowed and the clippings left on the grass.