Service Department

Trees - Public and Private

The City of Solon has instituted a pruning program for all tree lawns and rights-of-way in order to guide the growth of young trees and to keep roadways and sidewalks clear of low-hanging branches. It is the responsibility of property owners or occupants to see to it that dead trees or branches from their property do not endanger users of public sidewalks and roadways.

Autumn Leaf Collection

Each year from mid-October through mid-December, the City of Solon conducts a curbside leaf collection program. Leaves should be raked to curbside in piles or wind-rows as close as possible to, but not into, the roadway. No brush, twigs or other material should be mixed with the leaves as these tend to clog the vacuum pickup equipment and slow the process. You can help by mower-mulching your leaves instead of placing them at curbside.

Because of the great volume, no daily schedule can be followed but collection will be made as quickly and as often as possible.

All leaves collected are composted, not landfilled.

Rubbish Collection

Residential rubbish is collected at curbside Monday through Friday according to an established route schedule. Do not place anything in the street.

The use of plastic bags is encouraged-although, as of now, any standard rubbish container, up to 30-gallon capacity, is permitted.

Large items such as furniture and appliances may be put to curbside along with regular rubbish and will be collected by separate crews. Rubbish should be set out no sooner than the evening before or no later than 7:30 a.m. of collection day. Brush cut and stacked neatly at curbside with butt ends toward the street will be collected as quickly as possible. Call 440-248-5834 with questions or for assistance.

Recycling

It will no longer be necessary to separate all your recyclables into different bags.  The City of Solon will now collect recyclables in a single stream fashion.  This means residents can place all recycling materials in the same clear bag for curbside pick-up.  Also, you will no longer see the recycling trucks and trailers as the City will pick up your recyclables with a designated and marked rubbish packer specifically earmarked for recycling.  Our selected recycling vendor will take all the mixed recyclables to their material recovery facility (MRF) for sorting.  This will save the City a considerable amount of money and labor.

We will collect primary recyclables on your normally scheduled rubbish day.  The primary recyclables include the following:

• Glass (exceptions are drinking glasses and window glass)
• Plastics (numbers 1 through 7 as listed on bottom of container)
• Tin and Aluminum Cans
• Bundled and Contained Paper Products (including cardboard, newspapers, boxes, etc.)

In addition to this, please note that “secondary” recyclables will be picked up once a month.  We will pick these types of items up on your normal rubbish pick-up day during the first full week of each month.  Items that are considered for secondary recycling are as follows:

• Computers
• Auto Batteries
• Heavy Steel (license plates, bed frames, etc.)
• Carpet Padding
• Propane Cylinders
• Fire Extinguishers
• Liquids and solids such as paint, oil, household hazardous waste, pool chemicals, fertilizers, etc.

If a resident can not wait for the monthly pick-up, they are welcome to drop off their secondary recyclables directly at the Service Department at 6600 Cochran Road.  Please call ahead. The City of Solon would like to thank all residents for participating in the recycling program and encourage any new recyclers to get involved with this new easier program.  Please contact the City of Solon Service Department at 440-248-5834 if you have any questions regarding the new system.

Compost Program

Composting is the breakdown of organic matter (leaves, grass, paper, and food scraps) into a dark brown humus. Humus is then added to soil in gardens and on lawns to make them drought proof, disease resistant, increases yields and increases the beauty of the yield.

Grass clippings should be put in paper lawn refuse bags, available at local grocery and hardware stores. Clippings will not be picked up if they are in plastic bags.

Compostables can be laid on the ground as a sheet, but work best if placed in an aerated container. The Solon Service Department offers free plans and information for personal backyard composting projects. Stop by the Service Department at 6600 Cochran Road and get yours.

Over one thousand residents currently take part in the backyard composting program and the number is steadily increasing. Our city is receiving recognition for our efforts because our citizens care deeply about the environment. We are becoming less and less a throwaway society. Model community awards are presented to cities with model citizens.

Mosquito Control

Many Solon neighborhoods abut fields and woods, making mosquitoes a naturally occurring, but generally harmless, nuisance.

The Service Department is licensed and equipped to spray and shall do so during those occasional periods when mosquito populations increase dramatically or when public health concerns are brought to light. Call 440-248-5834 for information.

Snow and Ice Removal

Main and secondary roads are given first priority for plowing and salting to insure emergency accessibility and to ease traffic congestion. Residential streets are plowed as soon thereafter as possible using generally less salt in these areas. To insure free flow of snow melt, snow and ice are plowed back to the curb or roadway berm. Parking is prohibited on all City streets when snow has accumulated to a depth of two (2) inches. Residents are responsible for snow and ice removal from sidewalks in front of their property.

Sidewalk Plowing Information

Depositing of snow or ice onto any public property or sidewalk is prohibited. Snow must be kept on the property it comes from. Snow from your driveway may not be taken across the street.