After over a year since the City of Davis changed the way it picks up yard debris, a recent City-sponsored survey of affected residents makes clear the new system needs improvement.

Based on the responses of the survey and comments on the Nextdoor app, it seems promising that a weekly alternating schedule between use of bin (the new system) service and claw pick ups (the old system) would solve most of the issues Davis residents express.

Some examples of issues with new bin service:

* bins not big enough for weekly debris

* having 3 bins on the street is too crowded for some curb locations

* nowhere on property to store yard debris bin in addition to garbage and recycle bins

* when debris doesn't fit in bin, extra must be stockpiled in yard causing fire hazards, pest problems among other concerns

* bins are hazardous: elderly and those with disabilities cannot maneuver or fill tall bins as easily as using wheel barrows to move debris into street for claw pick up

* when yard debris doesn't fit into bins, residents are driving extra debris to land fill themselves negating program's original objective of cutting down on carbon output by vehicles

* 3 bins (garbage, recycling, yard debris) in street more hazardous to bikes

* when bin becomes full, residents put yard waste in garbage cans, negating program's original intent to encourage composting

* some yard waste too big for bins, such as trunks or branches

* pick up schedule does not meet all "leaf drop season" needs

Having a reliable every other week schedule to include both claw and bin will reduce the above problems and many others not included here, and also encourage composting for residents without incurring new costs, services or hazards for the city of Davis.