WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Ed. note: The video attached to this story is from previous coverage.
A few elderly Warner Robins residents couldn't be-leaf it when they were told they'd have to bag their leaves themselves.
Now, the city of Warner Robins is offering a solution.
After the city inked a contract with a new trash company, GFL, residents expressed their frustration that the company would not pick up leaves raked to the side of the road. Instead, residents now have to bag the leaves
At the time, many residents expressed worry about the impact on the area's senior and medically fragile citizens.
"I'm thankful that I'm not older and disabled so that I could do it," resident Willie Colbert said.
Previously, leaves ranked to the roadside would be swooped up by the old company, but now that's changed.
But on Wednesday, city leaders announced efforts to hopefully ease the burden on elderly residents.
"In a dedicated effort to support the Senior and Medically Disabled residents of our community, the City of Warner Robins is pleased to announce the initiation of a specialized Leaf Pick-Up Service," the press release said. "This service will be comparable to trash service for eligible residents."
The policy applies to residents 60 years or older and residents who are medically disabled.
Eligible residents would have to complete a leaf service waiver with the city's Public Works Department, but residents still have to provide documentation.
Residents older than 60 have to provide identification and proof of residence.
For medically disabled residents, they need to provide a doctor's note on official letterhead, and that note also has to say the patient can't bag their own leaves. They also must live alone or live with someone who themselves can't bag leaves.
But they still are required to fill out a leaf waiver form at the Warner Robins Public Works department, which is located at 210 Bay Street.
Eligible residents do have to rake their own leaves into a pile by the side of the road. They also say that they will be able to pick up "the bulk of the leaves," but any leftovers are still the resident's responsibility.
According to the press release, the leaf pick-up services start from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28.
It comes after a petition received the signature of 100 local residents back in mid-December, with many expressing their frustration with the leaf policy change.
"I have five oak trees, they produced a lot of leaves this year," Colbert said.
He has another tree in his own yard and leaves get blown over from his neighbors. It took Colbert and his wife three days to pick up all the leaves.
He says they filled up 32 bags of trash, and the GFL trash collection company left them sitting for nearly three weeks.
While many residents focused on the impact the policy change has on elderly, disabled and low-income folk, the Colbert previously asked city officials one question: why do homeowners have to bag the leaves?
"Maybe you can provide us with some help, you have city workers," Colbert said back in December.
But Warner Robins is now offering a solution to a sticky situation, much to the re-leaf of some of the city's elderly and disabled residents.