Dear Property Owners: 

Please be aware of a procedural change we are implementing for brush pick up starting this 2025 season. We request your cooperation with our existing guidelines by limiting the size of the brush pickup, putting brush in leaf bags or containers for pick up, and working with your landscapers to take away large brush and branches.

Summary of Issue 

Chautauqua Institution has written guidelines on collecting yard waste. Refer to the “Yard Trimmings and Brush Waste” section on the Waste Management web page at https://www.chq.org/sustainability/waste-management/). Historically, it was possible for one Buildings and Grounds staff member to drive across the grounds in a small pick-up truck and collect smaller piles of brush twice a week. Over the years, the size of the piles of brush and size of branches has grown considerably. We now must send a crew of three staff members with heavy equipment and trucks 4–5 days a week during the season to keep up with it. This is especially difficult when landscapers don’t remove yard waste after large scale upkeep, including leaving large tree limbs behind.  

Impact on Patron Experience 

1. Large brush piles create traffic issues, including letting emergency vehicles pass. 
2. The Institution must send large, heavy-duty equipment down neighborhood streets to keep up with the large brush piles. 
3. Large quantities of brush can be swept into sewer systems, especially during thunderstorms, and cause blockages. 
4. Loose-leaf brush, especially in large quantities, can blow into neighbors’ yards and streets on windy days. 
5. The extra staff time spent on collecting brush from private residences comes at the cost of staff working on shared spaces, like community gardens. 

What We’ve Done to Address the Issue 

We spoke with landscapers, some of whom told us property owners tell them “The Institution will take care of it.” It is quite likely because we have not enforced the size of brush pick up that property owners are not aware of size restrictions. The Institution publicizes its Yard Trimmings & Brush Waste guidelines on the Institution website and in an annual notice sent to all property owners. We are not changing the guidelines on the brush size. The only material change is we are asking for your cooperation in abiding by our existing guidelines to (1) limit the size of the brush pick up, and (2) put yard waste in leaf bags or containers. 

Our Solution 

1. Inform property owners of these issues by this communication. We are requesting that you: 
   • build brush pick up into landscaping contracts for large scale projects, and  
   • educate your contracted landscapers on the Institution’s small brush pick-up process and regulations listed below. 
2. Request property owners to use compostable paper “leaf bags” for brush pick up, OR to put their yard waste in a clearly marked bin (up to 30 gallons). This is a very common practice in many cities.  
   • Institution staff will collect up to five 30-gallon bags or bins each week.  
   • Bags must be closed on the top to restrict the size of brush. Doing so will help with containing the brush during rain or wind events and reduce staff time in picking it up. 
3. Send a written update to landscapers who frequent the grounds so they are aware of updated guidelines.  

We are grateful to the CPOA for providing us preliminary feedback on this procedural change that tries to balance convenience for property owners with our plans to reduce heavy equipment on the grounds during the season.  

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The Updated Yard Trimmings & Brush Waste Policy (April 1–Oct. 31) 

Intermittent weekly pick-up April 1 – Oct. 31 

We will collect these items when placed curbside in a leaf bag or a clearly marked container/bin (up to 30 gallons): 

• Branches & small sticks up to 4’ in length and less than 4” in diameter 
• Small yard trimmings including leaves, grass clippings, foliage and plants (remove container for potted plants) 
• Up to five 30-gallon leaf bags or containers may be left out each week  

To be collected, leaf bags/containers must be light enough for one person to lift (we won’t collect large debris piles). Bagged items must be in a paper bag; we will not collect items in a plastic bag.  

We won’t collect:  

• Dirt, rocks, sod, soil 
• Lumber 
• Landscaping materials 
• Mulch 
• Potted materials  
• Root balls, tree stumps  
• Large debris piles created by landscape contractors. These are the contractors’ responsibility to pick up and remove. 

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Community Compost Program

Did you know that 60% of the waste stream is compostable?

Our community composting program turns collected kitchen scraps and ground leaves into nutrient-rich compost. Our composting area is located off the grounds and uses controlled piling methods to create a valuable and sustainable resource.

The finished compost is incorporated into our gardens and landscapes throughout the grounds by our Gardens and Landscapes team.

How to Participate in the Community Compost Program

Our compost program is open to all on-grounds residents and businesses.

 Place compost material directly in compost bin. Please do not use plastic compost bags.

You Can Compost These Kitchen Scraps

• Coffee grounds and filters
• Eggshells (but not eggs)
• Fruit and vegetable peels (remove stickers)
• Nutshells
• Pasta
• Rice
• Salads
• Spoiled or moldy fruits and vegetables
• Tea bags (plastic free only)

We Cannot Compost These Kitchen Scraps

The controlled piling method of composting used at our compost area does not guarantee the heat needed to safely break down these kitchen scraps. We do not compost:

• All meat, fish, eggs (raw or cooked)
• Bones
• Dairy products
• Oils, Fats and Grease

These items also should not be included in your compost:

• Dirt
• Pet waste
• Plastic
• Wood, Cardboard, Paper

These items also should not be included in your compost:

Compost Bin Locations

• Behind Transportation Office Building, near the Massey Avenue Farmers Market
• Behind Bellinger Hall (Dining Hall area)
• The Overlook Condo parking lot on Bryant Avenue
• Next to Publications

Composting vs. Garbage Disposal

There are no environmental benefits to using a garbage disposal. Disposing of food waste this way requires extra water and puts an additional strain on the Chautauqua Utility District (CUD) Sewer Treatment Plant. Participating in the community compost program is a better alternative environmentally and economically.

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Frequently Asked Questions 

Why can’t the Institution just tell the landscapers that they must pick up large brush piles? 

We have informed landscapers that are known to us, but we don’t know every single contractor that works directly for property owners. Additionally, the situation is complicated when the landscapers are told by some property owners that they don’t need to pick up large brush. Lastly, we are aware that some landscapers are avoiding brush removal by dumping the waste on Institution property, or in between properties where it becomes less clear where the waste originated.  

Will the Institution offer brush pick before and after season?  

Yes, our pickup schedule will continue from April 1 through Oct. 31. Intermittent pickup will occur on a weekly basis. 

Will there still be “Community Clean Up Days” twice a year? 

Yes, we will continue to offer this service. The same pick-up procedures and waste size restrictions for yard waste apply to these dates: 

Household Waste Community Clean-up Days: 

• Spring Clean-up Day: First Wednesday of June 
• Fall Clean-up Day: Last Wednesday of August 

Yard Trimmings and Brush Waste Community Clean-up Days: 

• Spring Clean Up: First Monday of June 
• Fall Clean Up: Last Thursday of August 

Please see more details at https://www.chq.org/sustainability/waste-management/ 

Does this change impact leaf pick up in the fall? Will property owners have to rake and bag leaves in the fall? 

No, property owners do not need to do anything differently for fall leaf pick up. We have specialized equipment and crew in place to do leaf pick up in the fall. Leaves do not need to be bagged up in the fall. Our large, industrial vacuum trucks are capable of handling the leaves and navigating the streets during the off-season.  

Where can I purchase leaf bags? 

Leaf bags may be purchased at any hardware store or online. For the convenience of property owners, the Chautauqua Bookstore will offer leaf bags for purchase. Bags are available for $1 each. Bags should be limited to 30-gallon size. As an alternative, you can designate a bin for yard waste pickup, but please mark it clearly with a “yard waste” sign taped to it so that we don’t accidentally miss it. 

What happens if someone does not follow the updated guidelines and leaves brush in piles? 

The Institution will start by giving the property owners a reminder notice on these updated guidelines. We will issue one reminder to landscapers as well. We will move to stricter enforcement with landscapers who repeatedly violate the policy by final notice and, if needed, revocation of their BASE access passes. Our focus in 2025 will be to educate property owners and landscapers about our guidelines and to ask for their cooperation.  

What days will you pick up the leaves during the off-season and during season? 

There will be a weekly pick-up between April 1 and Oct. 31. We are not scheduling a specific day of the week for pick up to allow staff time to attend to emergencies or prescheduled work as these needs shift based on weather conditions, heavy patron attendance days during season, staffing issues (including sick time) etc. We assure you that weekly pick up will happen for all properties. If we inadvertently miss your property in any given week, please reach out to Amy Hummel at 716-357-6208. 

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Amy Hummel, Administrative Assistant for Facilities and Grounds, at ahummel@chq.org or 716-357-6208.