DPW Commissioner's Corner: Fall Leaf Tips

It’s about that time of year when Fall foliage illuminates our surroundings and the sun helps provide a spectacle of glorious colors!  Someone once said, “Autumn is not just about falling leaves and cooler temperatures—it’s a time to reflect, embrace change and find comfort in the present.”

It is also the time of year that once nature’s color showcase concludes that the real fun begins…the cleanup.

Leaves and grass clippings can be valuable resource OR a source of water pollution and a barrier to our storm drains.

What you can do:

Mulch: Remove the bag from your lawn mower or use a mulching lawnmower and add nutrients to your lawn and avoid having to dispose of the grass clippings. This will also reduce the need for fertilizers.

NEVER dispose of leaves or clippings in or near storm drains, drainage channels that collect rain or melting snow, wetlands, or water bodies.

Curbside Collection:  Bag leaves and clippings in paper bags or a clearly marked “Yard Waste” container to be picked up by DPW on your trash disposal day. Brush must be cut into lengths not exceeding 3 feet, contain no pieces greater than 3-inch diameter, and be tied in bundles not exceeding 1 foot in diameter and 50 pounds total. The last curbside collection is the 2 week of December.

Golden Nugget:

“There is something so special in the early leaves drifting from the trees—as if we are all to be allowed a chance to peel, to refresh, to start again.” —Ruth Ahmed