OGDENSBURG -- Residents hoping to get their brush picked up by the city can expect changes in the near future.

City councilors agreed Monday to try a new schedule for curbside pickup of yard waste throughout the city.

The idea came from Department of Public Works interim director Gregg Harland, who was asked to come up with a more efficient and effective way to clear brush from city residents.

Harland said the DPW spent 3,184 man-hours on brush collection last year. That’s equivalent to about 1.5 full-time jobs, according to city manager John Pinkerton.

His plan calls for rotating brush pickups on a weekly basis in the city’s four wards. Brush in each ward would be picked up once each month. The city is also asking people not to put their brush out until their ward is scheduled for pickup.

Pinkerton said this would begin on a trial basis without citations, but the code would be enforced down the road if people do not comply.

For residents who do not want to wait for their monthly brush pickup, Harland said the landfill would be open Monday through Friday.

While the majority of the council agreed to try the brush pickup schedule, Deputy Mayor Michael Morley said he was opposed. He said the city would be a mess as people will inevitably put their brush out before their scheduled pickup.

Despite his reservations the majority of board gave their consent.

The first pickup will be May 3, in the second ward. This includes portions of the city West of the Oswegatchie River.

The next pick up will be May 10 in the first ward and Proctor Avenue, which includes portions of the city east of the Oswegatchie River to State Street and homes east of the Proctor Avenue Bridge.

The third cycle will be May 17 in the fourth ward, which includes portions of the city easy of Pleasant Avenue to Champlain Street.

The third ward will be last in rotation on May 24. The Third Ward Runs from Caroline Street to Paterson Street.

The rotation will begin again on May 31 in the second ward.

According to the city, yard waste is defined as brush, branches, lawn clippings and leaves. Leaves should be in a separate pile and no bags or containers of anytime will be accepted.

Yard waste is to be placed between the sidewalk and curb, not in the street, at the front of your property. Brush will not be picked up in alleyways.

Piles must not block fire hydrants, nor touch poles, bushes or fences.

The city will not pick up debris or yard waste generated by a contractor.

Beginning May 6, and throughout the summer, people may bring yard waste to the old city landfill at the end of Champlain Street from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

There will no longer be an option to choose when calling the Department of Public Works for brush pick up.