It’s a great time to brush up on important fall reminders from the City of West Fargo's Public Works department.
Reminder #1: Yard waste must be disposed of at designated collection site
The City of West Fargo does not collect compost or yard waste at the curb. Yard waste includes organic, biodegradable material from lawn trimming or raking, as well as leaves, vines, garden waste and Halloween pumpkins and decorations. These materials can be disposed of at one of the three yard waste drop-off locations in the City of West Fargo. The drop off sites are located at the City of West Fargo sanitation building (117 Eighth St. W.), Eagle Run Water Tower (40th Avenue E. and Sheyenne Street) and 17th Street E. (between Second Avenue E. and Starr Avenue).
These collection sites include a large dumpster for the grass, leaves or other yard waste. No brush or branches are allowed. The collection site also includes a smaller receptacle for plastic bags and boxes used to transport the material. Please open the bags and dump the yard waste into the roll-off box. Do not throw your plastic bags in with yard waste as they will contaminate the compost.
Reminder #2: Brush, branches and bushes can be disposed of curb side
Brush, branches or bushes can be bundled neatly and placed on the curb for pickup. Most materials will be collected on the property’s garbage collection day, but during peak disposal times it may take up to one week for crews to collect branches. Branches should be in lengths of 4-feet or less and placed next to curbs, free of mailboxes or vehicles, concrete or sprinklers.
Residents can also bring these materials to the City of West Fargo Transfer Station for disposal during hours of operations.
Fall and winter weather often comes with strong winds that can often cause garbage and recycling bins to go missing. If you find one of your bins missing, look around your neighborhood in trees, ditches, fences and backyards. Residents should also talk to neighbors to see if they picked up an extra bin. If a week goes by without finding a bin and working with neighbors, residents can call to arrange for a replacement bin. For garbage bins, call the City of West Fargo Sanitation Department at 701-433-5400. For recycling bins, call Waste Management, Inc. at 701-277-0714.
Residents can also label their bins by putting their address on the bin with adhesive numbers.
Reminder #4: Transfer Station available for materials that cannot be collected curbside
The Transfer Station is located at 1620 Main Avenue W in West Fargo. It is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday’s from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Residents may haul branches, household waste, building materials and furniture to this location. Appliances are subject to a $10 charge for disposal.
Reminder #5: Property owners must obtain a sump pump variance to discharge inside
The City of West Fargo would like to remind residents who plan to discharge their sump pump water indoors into the sanitary sewer system this winter that they must obtain a seasonal variance. If residents obtain the $50 variance, they are able to discharge their sump pump water indoors into the sewer system between Nov. 1, 2019, and April 1, 2020.
Residents can take out a variance at any time during the winter months for a one-time fee of $50. The fee is not pro-rated based on when it is applied for and must be purchased annually. Residents can choose to pay online or have the fee added to their monthly utility bill. To purchase a variance, fill out the Sump Pump Variance Form at http://lf.westfargond.gov/Forms/Sump-Pump.
Reminder #6: Prepare for winter by developing alternate plans for severe winter weather
As the fall begins, it’s a great time to prepare for winter. The City of West Fargo has published the snow emergency operations plan at www.westfargond.gov/475/Snow-Plows. During a snow emergency, snow plows are utilized to keep snow emergency routes open during the active snowfall or windy conditions that move snow around. After the snowfall is complete, crews begin clearing streets that are not designated as snow emergency routes.
In the event of a major snowfall, it can take hours or even days to properly clear roads of snow and ice. A common rule of thumb is to have supplies on-hand to be self-sufficient for 72 hours. Residents are encouraged to begin collecting supplies and developing alternate housing, transportation and work arrangements before the snow falls to minimize any inconvenience of a large snow fall. For more information about preparing for a winter storm, visit FEMA’s winter storm preparedness guide.
Reminder #7: Brush up on winter-related ordinances for snow removal
In the City of West Fargo, snow must be removed from the sidewalks within 48 hours of the last snow event. It is also unlawful to push snow onto public property, including streets, boulevards, sidewalks or park property. (See Chapter 2-0121. Snow and Ice on Sidewalk Removed by Owner and Occupant of Property).