Continuing problems with West Salem’s tree and brush disposal may cause the village to take the free service to the curb.

According to village Administrator Teresa Schnitzler, the village is having a problem with non-residents and commercial contractors dropping off tree limbs and brush at the disposal site — a service that is only supposed to be available for West Salem residents.

The extra yard waste has created a burden for the village because it has to find a way to dispose of the limbs and brush. Schnitzler said the village is looking at options to solve the problem — one of which might be to simply discontinue the service.

“I hate for the service to be discontinued for the few that are abusing it, but we don’t know what to do with it all,” Schnitzler said.

Currently, village residents have two options to dispose of brush and tree limbs. Residents can leave the waste on the curb — where the village collects it twice a month and chips it April through October — or resident can drop it off at the public works building on West Avenue.

The mulch is disposed of at the village’s grass and leaves compost site north of West Salem, but the larger items dropped off at the unfenced public works site are an issue because they would fill up the compost site quickly.

“I’ve seen people coming in with truckloads at a time,” said Public Works Director Scott Halbrucker. “I’m just amazed. It fills up pretty fast.”

Last year, the village began renting a section of private property off Buol Road for $1,000 a year with the intention of storing the larger yard waste and then burning it. The village has conducted three burns since last year, but during the last burn in June, an unexpected wind blew the smoke into the village and prompted a number of complaints.

“The last time we did it, the sun came out and the wind came in and blew it all into town,” Schnitzler said. “It doesn’t look like that’s an option anymore.”

Schnitzler said other options the village has are hauling the yard waste to a landfill or paying a business to grind the limbs and brush, although both of those would cost the village. Schnitzler said paying someone or having police watch the present drop-off location during non-business hours isn’t cost-effective either, and fencing the area would create an inconvenience for residents.

The West Salem Street Committee is discussing the issue and alternative options, but Schnitzler and Halbrucker both said they hope there is a solution that will keep the service free for residents.

“It would be nice if we can find a way to keep this,” Halbrucker said.