Thursday, December 02, 2010
Fall Leaf Pick-up...One or Two
The DPW's ritual of picking up leaves that have been piled curbside across town continues. Reading the "leaflet" (no pun intended), that each resident receives in the mail, it states that each "zone" will receive 2 pickups during the leaf cleanup process. Now that most of the leaves have fallen and streets are being cleared, is this the first round or the second round of leaf pickup. Speaking with residents around town, many have stated they have experienced one pickup. Their leaf piles went from a small mound to a large heap during the leaf pickup season but with only one pickup. Could it be that the first round of pickups was scheduled so early in the season that not a pile existed on some streets? Instead of driving around looking for leaf piles to pickup early in the season, that don't exist, why not schedule the first pickup later, pushing back the final pickup? Why, because then you run into the problem of Winter snow that has fallen during the leaf cleanup process which in the past has hampered the DPW's snow plowing efforts. Maybe the town will change its "leaflet" to state one drive by and one pickup. Doubt it, because then the taxpayer gets shortchanged on the idea of two pickups during the leaf collection process. The fact of the matter is, one pass through the neighborhood to look for piles that don't exist yet, and one pass through the neighborhood to pick up the piles at the end of the season constitutes one pickup. Maybe not in your neighborhood.
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Can you predict when the leaves are going to fall? Do you believe the people at the DPW can? What's your point? Some people just love to complain and I think that you are one of those people. 2nd pick-up yesterday. First pick-up took plenty of leaves.
ReplyDeleteI can't predict when the leaves are going to fall nor do I believe that anyone at the DPW can either. My point is that the town advertises two pickups by December 3rd when the fact of the matter is that some streets have only had one. I don't doubt that your street had leaves picked up twice. The facts speak for themselves. Revealing facts is not complaining. Those afraid of the facts, complain when the facts are exposed.
ReplyDeleteI did choose to help out the town by using "Conservation Center" option under "How Residents can help.
I have posted below, parts of the town's website, the 2010 Leaf Collection Program
2010 Leaf Collection Program
The changing color of leaves and the chill in the air remind us that leaf season is approaching, and the Department of Public Works is busy making preparations for the Town's annual leaf collection program. With cooperation from all residents, and Mother Nature, the Town can continue to provide efficient and timely service.
LEAF COLLECTION SCHEDULE
As indicated on the map, the Town is divided into ten leaf collection areas: Areas 1-6 on the North side and 7-10 on the South side.
Collection will begin simultaneously on the North and South sides on October 18 and continue to December 3. During this timeframe two full passes of the Town will be made, with additional passes if necessary. Additional passes are based upon the need as determined by the Town.
HOW RESIDENTS CAN HELP We emphasize that the success of any leaf collection program is due, in large part, to the cooperation of residents. The Town encourages the use of biodegradable leaf bags for residents who wish to have leaves picked up. Bagging leaves helps the Town comply with the NJ Stormwater regulations and will aid in keeping our streets clean during leaf season. Following are the ways in which you can also help:
Leaves should be placed in narrow rows along the street, leaving a space along the gutter for drainage. This will help minimize local flooding during rains. Do not pile leaves on or near drainage inlets, which can lead to local flooding.
Note: Leaves cannot be placed closer then ten (10) feet from any inlet.
OTHER LEAF DISPOSAL OPTIONS In order to further maximize service, the Town offers residents two other leaf disposal options:
Pickup Service. Residents will be allowed to place their leaves in BIODEGRADABLE BAGS ONLY at the curb for pickup service. Residents can purchase the biodegradable bags from any Home Center. Bags will be picked up curbside by the Town DPW, via the Leaf Hotline (789-4120). Please leave your message after the recording including your home address.
Conservation Center. From October 7 to December 17 (weather permitting) the Conservation Center will be open Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., for any residents who want to dispose of their leaves directly. Landscapers serving Westfield residents may also haul leaves to the Center during this period, provided they have the required coupon signed by the resident. The Town Conservation Center will be closed on the following municipal holidays (Columbus Day-October 11, Veterans Day-November 11, Thanksgiving-November 25 & 26).
Please note: The Conservation Center will be open during the winter on the following Saturdays: January 8, 15, 22 and March 12 & 26 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. weather permitting.
Westfield has been doing this the past few years and it pisses me off. I just had my first pick-up early this week. With the wind last night I now have a yard full of leaves.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbors are already starting new piles and I hope the town has the sense to pick them up.
I can appreciate our host in this forum using the dump but that's not an option for me given the size of my car. Most of my neighbors are too old to haul leaves to the dump so what are they to do.
I'll save my complaints until too much time has passed and the new piles are on the street. I think if the town is smart, they'll take the necessary action.
In my opinion we wait and see what the town decides to do.
Thank you for this forum. I'll share it with my friends and neighbors in town. You can't engage in this type of communication on Patch and NJ.com is just plain hard to follow but it's how I found you all in the first place.
Can we start our own message for others to comment on?
Isn't the State rule (NJDEP) that leaves are supposed to be moved off the street within 7 days or must be bagged?
ReplyDeleteWhy does the State write laws that the towns just ignore? Or, more to the point, why does Westfield feel it's OK to ignore State laws?
There are towns/municipalities that enforce these laws with town code violations. The "7-day" rule, for lack of a better term at this time, would apply to the NJDEP limiting the length of time leaves are left curbside to prevent the debris from washing into the storm sewer system in the event of a heavy rain storm. One would have to ask .....Is the town responsible to pick up the leaves within 7 days of the leaves being piled at the curb or are residents responsible for not piling their leaves at the curb until the town is within 7 days of cleaning them up in any given "zone"? To be continued.
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