Yard waste-related traffic tie up leads to closing of Pike Creek site

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The Polly Drummond drop-off yard waste site near Newark, which opened for the season on Saturday was closed to further drop-offs about noon on Sunday after traffic snarls developed in the area and the site neared capacity.
 
On Sunday morning, the site had already reached about 80 percent capacity from material that was dropped off by residents on Saturday.
 
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control  reported that dozens of vehicles tried to enter  the site, creating a long line out of the entrance and onto Polly Drummond Hill Road, blocking traffic and requiring DNREC Natural Resources Police and Delaware State Police to respond.
 
According to a release, DNREC will work this week to have its contractor shred and remove all the material that was dropped, and create a traffic plan with the goal of reopening the site on Saturday, April 25. The site operates Saturdays and Sundays.
 
Demand was spurred by the lack of free yard waste sites in northern Delaware, recent wind storms and refuse haulers dropping yard waste service in April.
 
DNREC has attempted to close the site, due to the possibility of the spotted lanternfly and invasive plants making their way from the site and into White Clay Creek State Park. A few commercial lawn and landscape services attempting to use the site have also created headaches.
 
Newark-area legislators have continued to press  DNREC to keep the site open, despite demand remaining heavy from residents who do not want to pay for yard waste pickup.
 
For a time, commercial yard waste sites offered residents the option of dropping off yard waste at no charge. Those sites now charge commercial and  non-commercial users. A related headache comes from residents who dump yard waste in open spaces, such as utility rights of way.
 
A list of commercial yard waste drop-off sites that residents can use as a more expensive  alternative is at https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/waste-hazardous/yard-waste/drop-off-sites/
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