Organic Refuse Area

Study Overview

The board led a discussion of the history and status of the common “dump site” used by Members to dispose of organic refuse from their lawns and yards, such as grass clippings, small tree branches, etc. It was noted that use of the site has increased significantly as our neighborhood has matured (e.g., trees growing larger, trees dying, etc.), and that some Members have dumped large tree trunks and tree limbs. As a result, the Association’s costs for removal of the debris/refuse has grown to about $2,500 per year. Several members offered suggested approaches to managing refuse disposal, including: (a) designate a secondary site to the west (downhill) side of the current dump site which would allow for less frequent haul-offs of debris and potentially save money; (b) pursue the possibility of the Association or individual Members contracting for curb-side pick-up of organic refuse; (c) close the dump site to any future dumping and have Members deal individually with refuse removal; or (d) leave the dump site as-is and continue to pay for removal of debris as needed. A sub-committee was appointed to explore the feasibility, legality, and costs of various options and make a recommendation to the board. Sub-committee members are Bob Calhoun, Bob Reed, and Dan Norman. (Note: Any major change such as discontinuing this common refuse area and/or any special project exceeding the board’s discretionary spending limit of $2,500 would be subject to Members’ approval.)