Fall Leaf Pick up Cancelled

DPW Director Robert Cantoreggi delivered some bad news for residents in the public comment section of Wednesday night’s Town Council meeting. Why then and why there? It was too late to get on the regular agenda and the information couldn’t wait, he explained.

Each fall, as part of the town’s solid waste program, the town normally provides a pickup of bagged leaves (in special bags). The pickup usually comes in mid-November through an additional fleet of trucks. “I’ve been working with a vendor and they are having real issues,” Cantoreggi said. However, the company can’t get parts for its trucks and has been unable to rent trucks in the current environment, he explained.

Weighing options, Cantoreggi noted that there had been multiple yard waste collections each year – in the past. But only about five percent of those paying the trash and recycling fee actually use the yard waste service. As a result, Cantoreggi said he decided to cancel the collection entirely for the season. Instead, residents will be allowed and encouraged to bring leaves and yard waste to the Recycling Center/Transfer Station on Beaver Street.

And, he noted, the vendor will provide and pay for equipment to grind the leaves and yard waste there. What happens beyond this year will be a discussion for the future, he noted.

“I wanted to get the word out early; I'd hate for people to start bagging leaves and putting them by the side of the road,” he added.