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Residents urge Emmaus council to reverse end of curbside yard‑waste pickup
Summary
Two residents told the Emmaus Borough Council that ending curbside yard‑waste bag pickup and changes to the compost site will harm residents—especially older adults—and asked the council to reconsider and solicit user input.
Craig Neely, a longtime Emmaus resident who gave his address as 209 Main Street, told the borough council during the personal‑appeals portion that he objects to the council’s change ending yard‑waste bag pickup. “I really think that’s a terrible decision,” Neely said, arguing the compost site and curbside pickup are central to Emmaus’s residential quality of life and make it easier for property owners to maintain yards and maximize property values.
An online resident who identified herself as over 65 told the council she has no truck and “has relied on the borough picking up yard waste for the past several years,” and asked whether the borough sought user input before adopting the schedule that limits pickup to twice a year. She said many retired neighbors lack the capacity to transport yard waste and cited roughly “500 households” as service users, urging the council to find an alternative that would not make it harder for older residents to care for their properties.
Both speakers traced the value of the compost facility to neighborhood upkeep: Neely said the compost site’s availability encourages residents to improve properties and credited the service with helping Emmaus maintain its residential character. The online resident pressed the council on operational questions, asking whether pickups must be weekly, if every‑other‑week service was considered, and how the twice‑year schedule would affect curbside material during windy weather.
Council did not provide a substantive response during public comment. A staff member reminded participants that public comment is not always answered at the podium and the council may choose whether to respond. Earlier in Neely’s remarks, a council member moved and the council approved a five‑minute extension so Neely could finish his appeal.
The speakers asked the council to engage users in designing any new yard‑waste approach and to consider the accessibility needs of older residents and those without trucks. The council did not record any directive or vote on the yard‑waste policy during this meeting.
Next steps: council members did not commit to a specific follow‑up in the meeting transcript. The public‑comment period closed with no formal response recorded; interested residents may contact borough staff or await future committee agendas where the issue could reappear.
