Raleigh closes Yard Waste Center to public after employee tests positive for COVID-19
The city of Raleigh is temporarily closing its Yard Waste Center to the public after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
There is no risk to the general public, said city spokesperson Julia Milstead.
“While the employee is not public-facing, possible interaction with other employees led us to implement quarantining measures that caused us to experience a staff shortage,” Milstead said.
The staff shortage and cleaning at the facility prompted the temporary closure, she said.
The Yard Waste Center, at 900 N. New Hope Road, will not accept yard waste from residents or contractors starting Tuesday, Aug. 25, according to a news release. The center will also temporarily stop selling compost, mulch and other materials on that day.
A reopening date hasn’t been decided, Milstead said.
The Yard Waste Center produces 19,000 tons of mulch and compost annually, according to a 2018 city video.
The temporary closing does not affect the city’s biweekly yard waste pickup service, and city trucks will still deliver yard waste to the center.
The center reopened for regular service in May after being temporarily closed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
This story was originally published August 24, 2020 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Raleigh closes Yard Waste Center to public after employee tests positive for COVID-19."
