Emerald Ash Borer

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has quarantined Montgomery County because The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been found in ash trees in the county. The state's quarantine, which is designed to slow the spread of the ash tree-killing insect, prohibits the movement of ash trees, parts of an ash tree, and all hardwood firewood out of infested areas.

Department officials have quarantined Montgomery County to help stop the spread of the devastating insect via ash trees and firewood. It is illegal to take ash trees, parts of ash trees, and all hardwood firewood out of a quarantined county into a non-quarantined county. Violators face fines up to $4,000. It is also illegal to take these items out of the state of Ohio, per federal quarantine.

Firewood dealers, businesses, or woodlot owners interested in marketing and transporting ash trees or firewood out of quarantined areas can do so only with a department-approved compliance agreement. These agreements stipulate handling practices that mitigate the spread of EAB. Since it was first discovered in Ohio in 2003, EAB has been identified in 33 counties: Allen, Auglaize, Butler, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Defiance, Erie, Fairfield, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Huron, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Sandusky, Seneca, Ottawa, Paulding, Union, Warren, Williams, Wood, and Wyandot counties. These counties have been quarantined to stop the movement of firewood and ash logs, which are the largest contributors to the spread of EAB. For the latest quarantine map, go to www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab

Ash trees infested with EAB typically die within five years. The pest belongs to a group of metallic wood-boring beetles. Adults are dark green, one-half inch in length and one-eighth inch wide, and fly only from early May until September. Larvae spend the rest of the year beneath the bark of ash trees, and when they emerge as adults, leave D-shaped holes in the bark about one-eighth inch wide.

For more information on the latest quarantine or on firewood movement, call 1-888-OHIO-EAB.

Montgomery County Transfer Stations

The Montgomery County North and South Transfer Stations will take yard waste and wood debris during normal operating hours. All wood waste should be segregated when bringing it to the transfer stations. Loads of yard waste is billed at a reduced rate per ton. Yard waste that is mixed with garbage will be consider municipal solid waste(MSW) and will be charge at the MSW charge per ton.

Note: yard waste from quarantined and non-quarantined counties can be disposed of at both the Montgomery County North and South Transfer stations.

Montgomery County sends all yard waste to a EPA licensed compost facility in Montgomery County where the wood waste is ground up and processed into mulch and compost. This grinding process kills the Emerald Ash Borer Larvae.

If you have questions please call 937-225-4999.