Article Contributed on: 4/16/2007 10:45:07 AM
As winter releases its grasp on the growing season, trees and shrubs are sprouting and branches are reaching out toward buildings, utility lines and roadways. Spring also is prime cutting season for residents who prune vegetation around their homes to create defensible space and mitigate the risk of wildland fires.
Both activities generate truckloads of slash in the foothills, but many people don't know what to do with all that material.
Residents of Jefferson County don't have to fret. They only need to bring their slash to one of 12 remote slash collection days hosted by their local fire departments, Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management and the Rooney Road Recycling Authority.
• June 9-10 at Coal Creek Fire Station #2, 32895 Highway 72, hosted by Coal Creek Fire Department.
• June 16-17 at Conifer High School, 10441 Highway 73, hosted by Elk Creek Fire-Rescue.
• June 23-24 at Evergreen High School, 29300 Buffalo Park Road, hosted by Evergreen Fire/Rescue.
• June 30-July 1 at Inter-Canyon Fire Station #3, 8445 Highway 285, hosted by Inter-Canyon Fire Rescue.
• July 21-22 at North Fork Fire Station #1, 19384 County Road 126, hosted by North Fork Fire Department.
• July 28-29 at Conifer High School, 10441 Highway 73, hosted by Elk Creek Fire-Rescue.
Each collection site is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Acceptable materials are limited to slash, tree debris, limbs up to 8 feet long and 6 inches in diameter, grass, leaves and chipped wood.
A small pick-up truck loaded to bed level with this material will cost $5 to recycle; loaded cab high the cost increases to $10. Full size pick-ups loaded to bed level cost $10 and those loaded cab high are $15. Other amounts of materials will cost $2 per cubic yard.
"Regardless of the amount of material brought to the collection site, the fee is a small investment in neighborhood safety," said Einar Jensen, Evergreen Fire/Rescue community educator.
Another option for Jefferson County residents is to bring slash to the Rooney Road Slash Collection Site at 151 South Rooney Road in Golden. That facility is open between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Call the facility at 303-710-9120.
Additional details are available at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office website: www.jeffco.us/sheriff/sheriff_T62_R191.htm.