Leaf Disposal Update - Council Work Session October 11

On September 13, Council passed a motion in work session to look into alternatives to vacuum leaf disposal. Here is our summary of the original presentation. In Tuesday’s Council Work Session, Council heard an update on these alternatives from Environmental Quality and Public Works Commissioner Nancy Albright.

Here are some of the alternatives the administration has come up with:

• Mow leaves into lawn.

• Compost your leaves.

• In November and December, the Streets and Roads division will collect yard waste bags and waste from yard waste bins each week on residents’ regular collection days. (There will be no yard waste collection during the week of Thanksgiving).

• Haley Pike Landfill will also suspend fees for everyone in November and December.

• Provide coupons for 45 free leaf bags instead of 15.

Alongside alternatives, this presentation highlighted storm drainage issues over the past few years using complaints from the public. In 2017, 20 complaints using the word leaf were made. This number only rose to 21 in 2021. Total stormwater investigation calls have gone from 387 in 2017 to 517 in 2021.

LFUCG administration has included their communication plan if Council moves forward with these alternatives. Communication with the public will consist of TV Commercials, Postcards with bag coupons, digital media, and radio ads.

Most of the council members supported this and passed the new Leaf Disposal Plan. Commissioner Albright said that administration will know work on plans to communicate this to the public.