Public works to ban green‑waste wood over 10 inches at county transfer stations starting July 1

Sierra County Public Works Director Brian Davey told supervisors the county will institute an administrative prohibition on accepting green‑waste items larger than 10 inches in diameter at its transfer stations, effective July 1, citing operational constraints on processing oversized woody debris.

“It's not something that the green Greenway system is set up to manage. We can't burn it. It's too large,” Davey said, explaining the material overwhelms the current transfer‑site handling systems and staff capacity. He said the county will hand out informational flyers at transfer stations, include guidance about alternatives and that staff are reworking the county's solid‑waste ordinance to make the new limit permanent.

Supervisors and residents asked what options people have to dispose of large trees and limbs; Davey said options include dividing the material for firewood, hauling it to facilities that will accept it for a fee and private hauling. One supervisor suggested the flyer should list Portola’s green‑waste facility, which the director agreed to include.

The board did not adopt a formal ordinance at the meeting; Davey said this will be instituted administratively now and the comprehensive ordinance rewrite will follow. Staff will begin public outreach at transfer stations immediately and return with a formal ordinance update for board consideration.