Welcome to www.a2gov.org/leaves
Ann Arborites can choose to mulch their leaves on-site, or set paper bags and compost carts with leaves at the curb for weekly pickup, or take advantage of free bulk leaf drop-off locations. Please remember that the city no longer picks up loose leaves that are raked to the street. Press release attached (pdf) and web info at a2gov.org/leaves.
ON-SITE LEAF MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
· Use the city’s weekly Compostable pickup service from April through mid-December (Dec. 16, 2011). Use bags or a compost cart for weekly compostable pickups. Place leaves in large paper bags or use an optional compost cart to set at the curb before 7 a.m. on the neighborhood weekly solid waste collection day. Compost carts may be purchased for a one-time charge of $50 each for any size (32-, 64-, or 96-gallon cart) from the city’s Customer Service & Payment Center, located in Larcom City Hall, 310 E. Huron, open weekdays 8-5, 734.994.2807. Cart information is posted online at www.a2gov.org/carts.
Feed your lawn with leaves by using a mulching mower. For many people, it’s easier to run a mulching mower than to rake and bag leaves. And researchers have found mulched leaves provide a fall lawn feeding as well. Faculty at the Turf Research Institute at Michigan State University successfully tested using mowers to mulch over 18” of dry leaves into the turf with healthy results for the lawn year after year. Leaf mulching reports and videos from Scotts Lawn Care, MSU and others are posted at www.a2gov.org/leaves. Mulching leaves is a practical option for properties with lots of trees and is commonly used by many golf course operators.
FREE LEAF DROP-OFF AT THE ANN ARBOR COMPOST CENTER
From September through December, Ann Arbor property owners or their designated haulers may deliver unlimited quantities of fall leaves at no charge to the Compost Center, 4150 Platt Road, Open Mon-Fri, 8-4 p.m. 734.794.6380. Commercial haulers have free leaf drop-off between 8 a.m. to Noon, and 2-4 p.m. in order to avoid backups at the scalehouse by recycling and refuse vehicles. Individual residents with up to 3 cubic yards of materials may use the scales at any operational time at no charge.
Also, year-round, Ann Arbor residents may deliver up to one cubic yard (6 yard waste bags) of compostables—including grass clippings, veggie scraps, uncoated paper plates, cups, and napkins--per visit, at no charge, to Recycle Ann Arbor’s Drop-Off Station, 2950 E. Ellsworth, 734.971.7400, www.recycleannarbor.org, open Tues and Thurs 8:30-6:30 and Sat, 9-6. Non-Ann Arbor residents and quantities of yard waste over 1 cubic yard per visit are charged $2/bag, $23/cubic yard plus a $3 entry fee.
HELP AREA SENIORS WITH LEAF RAKING
Neighborhood Senior Services is coordinating its 35th annual fall chore day on a Saturday, in mid-November from 10-2. Volunteers sign up online by Oct 31 at www.nssweb.org and assist raking leaves, checking smoke alarms, and helping seniors throughout Washtenaw County. 734.712.7775. Groups, individuals, and families are welcome to participate.
LANDSCAPER and HAULER INFORMATION
The following letter was mailed to many area landscapers and haulers in September along with attachments for leaf drop of permit "A" for individual properties and permit "B" for multiple properties, and a summary of the drop-off options at the Compost Center scalehouse.
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Advantages of weekly leaf pickups with the Compost collection program include:
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Providing weekly curbside leaf pickups instead of relying on two seasonal street collections.
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Avoiding problems with vehicles parking over leaves on the pickup day, impeding truck collection access, and resulting in areas of street leaves left behind for a season.
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Preventing leaves from clogging storm drains, which leads to neighborhood flooding and results in pollutants entering the Huron River—the primary source of the city’s drinking water.
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Increasing the efficiency of leaf collection by using existing compost collection system.
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Increasing safety for bicyclists along marked bike lanes and other streets.
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Responding to seasonal weather variations. If warm, dry weather delays the leaf-drop or early snowfall reduces the opportunity for street collection at the end of the season, every resident gets the same weekly access to leaf pickup each year.