Yard clippings could rake in money for the city of Macon -- from fines on Macon homeowners and lawn care companies.
City council passed an ordinance Tuesday to charge a $100 fee to anyone who puts yard debris in the street or near the storm drainage system.
The original proposal called for a $25 fine, but council members decided that wasn't enough to keep the streets clean.
Council member Nancy White says leaves, grass, and other lawn debris can clog the drainage system and cause harmful algae to grow in the city's bodies of water.
She says, "It's not going to change the way public works picks up your yard debris now. You can still continue to gather it and bundle it according to the guidelines. What this does is prevents, especially, the commercial lawn keepers that do a lot of businesses from just blowing the debris straight into the road, all over cars."
The city plans to send out notices to all business license owners who work in lawn care.