Today marked the first day of yard waste pickup of the year in Perry, though if you missed it, there’s plenty more to come. City Administrator Sven Peterson says while the first pickup is city wide, subsequent pickups will alternate between the south and north side of town. Though some people will want to get ahead of the pickup and leave their bags on the corner several days before, Peterson advises that’s not always a good idea. Leaving paper bags outside can cause the bottoms to rot out, and the bags can break when lifted. In that event, Peterson says the sanitation workers will do their best to get everything, but there are ways people can avoid creating the problem.

“The in-between weeks, try and keep those bags in a garage, in a shed, something like that. Just where they’re dry and out of the elements. Try and get them out there that Wednesday that your pickup is, so that they can go through the route quickly and get everything done.” The City advises citizens to place their yard waste at the curb by 7 a.m. to ensure prompt pickup. The next pickup day will be April 12th for residents south of Willis Avenue and April 19th for those north of Willis.

Yard waste is to be placed in biodegradable paper bags with a maximum weight of 40 pounds, excluding tree, bush, or brush materials, which are to be tied in maximum lengths of four feet. No garbage containers, plastic bags, or cardboard boxes will be allowed. If you have any questions, call Perry City Hall at 515-465-2481. To hear more from Peterson, listen to Tuesday’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.