The City of Flagstaff鈥檚 pine needle pick-up initiative, which began last month, will expand to additional neighborhoods starting Friday, May 16.聽
Roll-off dumpsters will be placed in the Rock Ridge Estates, Ridge Crest, and Anasazi Ridge neighborhoods from May 16 through May 23. The dumpsters will be located at or near four intersections: Beal Road and McMillan Road, Beal Road and Rockridge Road聽 Kittredge Road and Tolchaco Road, and Hereford Drive and Meade Lane.
The dumpsters will move to the Lynnwood and Cheshire neighborhoods from June 2 through June 9, then to Country Club Estates from June 16 through June 23. Finally, the dumpsters will be located in Boulder Point from June 30 to July 7.
The dumpsters are part of a pilot program to provide residents with an opportunity to remove organic materials from their yards and reduce the risk of wildfire danger. All city residents may dispose of pine needles in the dumpsters, regardless of their specific location.聽No other trash or non-organic materials should be placed in the dumpsters.聽
Noah Baker of the Flagstaff Fire Department鈥檚 wildland fire management division told the City Council on Tuesday, May 6 that the previous pick-up in University Heights was successful, with dumpsters repeatedly filled to capacity.
鈥淭he community had a need there, and we didn鈥檛 get all of it, but we got a big portion of it,鈥� Baker said. 鈥淚 want to thank all our partners and our residents for supporting us through this. It鈥檚 been a challenge, but it鈥檚 been a worthwhile challenge, and we鈥檙e seeing the fruits of our labors there.鈥�
In addition to the launch of the city's dumpster collection pilot program, Coconino County鈥檚 Willard Springs Green Waste Site opened ahead of schedule this year. All county residents can drop off organic waste, including pine needles, free of charge on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Flagstaff Fire Department recommends that residents remove excess pine needles from their yards and areas near their homes to lower the risk of wildfire danger. Residents are also encouraged to review the department鈥檚 Wildland Fire Action Guide to prepare for the coming summer months. The guide is available at .