[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Public Works asks residents not to rake or blow leaves into streets and storm gutters or drains

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Columbia Public Works - Storm Water Education
(573) 874-7250

Public Works asks residents not to rake or blow leaves into streets and storm gutters or drains

COLUMBIA, MO (October 27, 2014) - The rich colors of fall are breathtaking, but when the leaves have lost their color and fall in your yard, what do you do with them? While mother nature will drop the leaves indiscriminately in yards and into streets, sweeping leaves into the street or into the storm drain is not the answer. Columbia Public Works Department asks residents to not blow or rake their leaves and yard waste into the street; the city can not clean large amounts of leaves from the street or roadway in front of homes. Leaves raked or blown into the storm gutters can damage the street sweepers, which are not designed to handle large amounts of leaves. Leaves and other yard waste that end up in storm drains also can clog storm drains and damages the health of our streams and degrades our water quality. The burning of leaves is prohibited by city ordinance for safety reasons and clean air regulations.

Residents are encouraged to place leaves in the black trash bags provided by the city along with their trash and set them out on their normal refuse collection day. Beginning in 2009, residents were asked to start putting their leaves and twigs in the black bags along with their trash. These items are then disposed of in the city's bioreactor landfill. Through the use of a bioreactor, the city produces methane at a higher rate of use as a renewable energy source. Yard waste is used to create energy for Columbia.

Other options for disposing of leaves:


*Mow them. Remove the grass catcher from your mower and let the chopped-up leaves stay on your lawn as organic matter-- a winter mulch that will improve the soil and attract earthworms.



*Take them to the city mulch site. Yard waste may be dropped off at the Capen Park Drive or Parkside Drive mulch sites.



*Instead of carting leaves to the curb, turn them into compost. Leaf compost can be a great soil conditioner. For more information on composting, visit the city's website or sign up for a free composting workshop.



Leaves and other yard waste that end up on city streets go into storm drains which lead directly to local creeks and streams. For more information on storm drains and tips for yard waste, contact the Public Works Department at (573) 874-7250 or go online to www.GoColumbiaMo.com.



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