Fairfield to limit access to mulch site to just Friday through Sunday

FAIRFIELD – The City of Fairfield is putting some limits on its free mulch and compost pile after certain individuals have abused the service.

The Fairfield City Council voted during its meeting Monday, Oct. 9 to only open the gates to the mulch and compost pile Friday through Sunday. It was previously open seven days a week.

For more than a decade, Fairfield residents have been able to take advantage of free mulch and compost at the city’s property at the south end of 20th Street near the intersection with Jackson Avenue. The city would collect yard waste such as limbs, leaves and grass clippings, and put them through a tub grinder that it rented. The resulting mulch was then free for residents to take.

Fairfield City Administrator Doug Reinert said that although a sign at the compost site indicates it is not open to contractors, some of them have been dumping things there anyway, including huge logs, some as wide as four feet, that cannot fit through the tub grinder. He said the site is collecting more yard waste than employees can handle. In an effort to prevent abuse of the service, the council voted to restrict the number of days it was open to the public. Reinert said the gates and new sign are being installed this week, so residents can expect the change to take effect any day now.

Reinert said the city is also making plans to transfer excess brush to city property northeast of town that the Southeast Iowa Skeet Club leases. He said the city will coordinate with the club so the city can burn the brush a few times a year, without disrupting the club’s activities.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com