The County of Nevada is contracting with the Fire Safe Council to offer free storm-related green waste disposal to Nevada County residents for three extended weekends this spring. It is no secret that recent storms created a mess for residents, and many are feeling overwhelmed by the clean-up process. This disposal program is designed to help homeowners address the storm debris, like tree trunks and branches, on their properties in advance of fire season. The community green waste drop off events will be available from 9:00 am- 3:00 pm at 12625 Brunswick Rd, Grass Valley on the following days:
- March 11th, 12th & 13th
- March 25th, 26th & 27th
- April 8th, 9th & 10th
Now is the time to make a plan for the remainder of the winter to get properties cleared before warmer weather creates a heightened fire risk. “Understanding what you need to clean up is the first step and the best way to get started. People make the mistake of thinking it can all be done effectively in one weekend. It is best done with some planning to help your time and money go the farthest,” says Office of Emergency Services (OES) Program Manager, Paul Cummings.
County staff continues to respond to the unprecedented storm damage, having partnered with 3 contractors to clear hazardous debris along more than 100 miles of the roadway so far. “We have never mobilized a storm response of this magnitude and continue to focus on clean up and recovery across the county. We want to make it a little easier for residents to plan their projects. Confirming the dates of the free green waste disposal days was a key part of that effort,” says Nevada County Director of Building Craig Griesbach.
Many may find they will need additional labor and equipment to do a thorough job. Collaborating with neighbors on items like a large dumpster or chipper rentals can save time and money. Residents with equipment and expertise are encouraged to support their neighbors in this important first step. “It is a community-wide effort. Like anything, we benefit from working together and sharing resources and knowledge. Breaking down this huge cleanup challenge into smaller tasks over these next few months before fire season will be key to building a community that is more resilient to wildfire,” says Jenn Tamo, OES Analyst.
“We realize that this storm has created a monumental amount of downed vegetation in our community, and we appreciate our residents taking personal responsibility and participating in the recovery efforts. We are pleased that the county has invested so many resources to make free green waste disposal happen and we even have low-cost chipping ready to help people achieve their cleanup. We all need to do our part to keep our beautiful community prepared for wildfire,” adds Jamie Jones, Executive Director of Nevada County Fire Safe Council.
This free green waste disposal option is for residential green waste resulting from the recent snowstorms. Residents are invited to drop off brush, slash, and vegetative material. Please note, trash, treated wood, and root balls will not be eligible items for disposal.
Quick Tips for Storm Debris Green Waste Disposal:
- Plan for upcoming Free Storm Debris Green Waste drop off days
- March 11th, 12th & 13th
- March 25th, 26th & 27th
- April 8th, 9th & 10th
- Process large material into firewood
- Prepare piles for future burns. Allow material to dry to minimize nuisance smoke and review the burn pile guidelines prior to burning.
- Share equipment or rental expenses between neighbors:
- Chipper
- Splitter
- Large 20, 30, 0r 40-yard green waste dumpster from Waste Management
- Goats or sheep
- Compost leaves and pine needles
- Order residential curbside pickup from Waste Management
- Drop off material at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station
14741 Wolf Mountain Road
Grass Valley, CA
(530) 274-2215
Wednesday – Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Apply for chipping assistance through the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County
- Hire a local licensed vendor
Best Practices When Hiring Locally
Local licensed professionals are available to help with green waste debris removal, chipping, hazard tree assistance, and more. The Fire Safe Council and the Nevada County Contractors Association maintain local vendor lists. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) urges residents to hire only California-licensed contractors to avoid being victimized by unlicensed persons and migratory criminals. A CSLB-issued license is required for any job totaling $500 or more in labor and materials. Licensed contractors have met experience and testing requirements to carry a license bond, passed a criminal background check, and carry workers’ compensation insurance for employees. Verify contractor status here: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/ZipCodeSearch.aspx.