The cost of additional yard carts that Rock Hill residents use to put out leaves, tree limbs and other yard waste for weekly city collection has been decreased to $25.

Residents buying their first yard cart still will be charged $50.The change applies only to people who want to buy an additional cart for yard waste.

City Council member Kevin Sutton said decreasing the cost of additional yard carts could be perceived as unfair to the nearly 250 people in Rock Hill who already paid $50 for a second or third cart.

He said reimbursing the price difference to those residents – a total of about $6,250 – would be the right thing to do.

The council has not decided to give a billing credit to those 250 people but city officials said they would look into that option.

The City Council decided unanimously to lower the price of additional carts from $50 to $25 at Monday’s meeting – six weeks after the council voted to implement a new fine for residents who set yard debris near the road without paying for a brown cart.

After two warnings, residents who put yard waste at the curb and have not purchased a yard cart, will be fined $50. People who buy carts are allowed minimal yard waste overflow five times a year before seeing a $50 fine.

The city defines minimal overflow as yard debris measuring no more than two cubic yards – about the size of two refrigerators.

Normal city collection of yard debris during leaf season (November to January) and cleanup after major storms will still occur without counting those pickups toward a resident’s free collection, city officials said.

Leaves placed at the curb should be left in piles for city collection, not placed in bags.

Rock Hill also considers it unlawful for people to use any means such as a leaf blower or rake to put leaves in the street or stormwater drains.

Anna Douglas 803-329-4068