(Photo courtesy of Deschutes County Solid Waste)
Deschutes County is encouraging residents to get their homes ready for wildfire season and take advantage of the free yard debris drop-off events offered each year through the FireFree program. During a wildfire, most homes are lost when falling embers smolder and ignite dry, vulnerable areas around a house.
Embers can travel several miles to land in fallen pine needles, leaves or other yard debris and start a fire close to home. Residents can help lower that risk by clearing out flammable debris and maintaining defensible space around their homes. To help make that work easier, FireFree offers free yard debris disposal at local collection sites across the county. Events begin May 1, but dates and hours vary by location.
FireFree collection dates and locations
- Sunriver: Sunriver Compost Site
May 1-2
8am-4pm, Friday and Saturday
18305 Cottonwood Road, Sunriver - Bend: Knott Landfill
May 15-May 24 (7 days/week)
7am-4:30pm
61050 SE 27th Street, Bend - La Pine: Southwest Transfer Station
June 5-13 (closed on Sunday)
8am-4pm, Monday-Saturday
54580 Highway 97, La Pine - Redmond: Negus Transfer Station
June 5-13 (closed on Sunday)
8am-4pm, Monday-Saturday
2400 NE Maple Way, Redmond - Sisters: Northwest Transfer Station
June 5-6 and June 10-13
8am-4pm, Wednesday-Saturday
68200 Fryrear Road, Sisters
What will be accepted (and what will not)
Accepted: grass clippings, brush, plant prunings, pine needles, pine cones, weeds, trimmings, branches, stumps or trees no larger than 12 inches in diameter.
Not accepted: sod, dirt, rocks, lumber, metal, trash or plastics of any kind (including plastic bags), and any stumps or trees larger than 12 inches in diameter.
**Please remember to cover your loads when traveling to the collection site.**
projectwildfire.org • 541-322-7129
