UPDATE: The City of Hastings compost drop-off area on West State Road is now open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and weekends.
Hastings residents who have compostable materials may obtain temporary access to the site by calling the city at 269-945-2468 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday with proof of residency within the city limits.
A temporary code for access to the site will be issued. The code is changed every Monday, so you may need to call for that week's code.
Rules regarding the use of this site are as follows:
*The site is only for compostable materials originating from property within the City of Hastings
*Only the following materials may be dropped off: Branches less than three inches in diameter and no more than four feet in length, leaves and grass clippings and no treated lumber or building materials.
ORIGINAL STORY:The Hastings composting site on West State Road will be open as soon as site conditions allow, possibly as soon as today or tomorrow, deputy City Manager Jerry Czarnecki said Monday.
The city is waiting for the drop-off area to dry out before opening the season.
When it opens, Czarnecki will notify residents on WBCH.com, other local media and the city’s website.
A key pad and electric gate system has been installed and tested. Signs are being placed at the site to help residents use the new system to enter the site, he said. The code for the site will be reset each Monday morning. Residents can call Hastings City Hall during office hours for the code.
They will be asked for their address to verify they live in the city and will then be able to access the site from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week, and weekends. Czarnecki said the city would like to get the facility open by spring break.
Also, the annual spring cleanup will begin on April 15, with city crews making one swing through the city, picking up compostable yard waste, small branches and twigs.
Czarnecki stressed that homeowners put the yard debris in the area between the sidewalk and streets, not in the roadway. The crews are sweeping the streets and going around a pile of yard waste defeats their efforts.
Questions can be directed to Czarnecki.
