The Town of Ponoka’s annual back alley collection of compostable yard waste begins after the Thanksgiving long weekend on Oct. 10 and will continue until each back alley is completed.

The town will make one pass down each back alley in Ponoka to collect yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, weeds, and branches less than five foot) in excess of what will fit into residents’ green carts.

Residents are asked to place all materials for pick up in a pile at their back alley no later than Monday, Oct. 9.

Residents who do not have a back alley can place yard waste near the curb at the front of their property, ensuring the materials are visible for pick up.

Yard waste set out for collection should not be bagged, as bagged material will not be picked up to avoid contaminating the compost pile at the town’s Waste Transfer Station.

Other items that will not be picked up include rocks, construction materials, wood, household waste, plastic, and pet excrement.

Residents are also welcome to bring compostable yard waste free of charge to the Waste Transfer Station.

The station only accepts compostable yard waste such as tree branches, leaves, and grass clippings – not kitchen waste.

Kitchen waste can only be composted through the green cart program and is not accepted at the Waste Transfer Station as the facility is not set up to compost that type of material.

For a complete list of what can be composted curbside in the green carts, visit www.ponoka.ca/p/green-carts.