West Hartford’s curbside leaf bag collection runs from Oct. 29 through Dec. 28, 2018, but for residents who hire private contractors, the town has made a new online form available to streamline the voucher process.

Submitted

The Town of West Hartford has improved and streamlined its Residential Leaf Voucher system.

Leaf vouchers allow private contractors to dispose of leaves from residential properties at the town’s Yard Waste and Recycling Center free of charge. Residents using the voucher system should only be charged for the cost of transporting their leaves for disposal and for the labor charges associated with cleaning their property.

Beginning on Oct. 29, 2018, residents will be able to apply for residential leaf vouchers online, by phone, or in person. The old process required residents to download the leaf voucher form, print and complete it, and then give it to private contractors. Now, residents can fill out the form electronically and submit it through the town’s website, https://westhartfordct.gov/leafvoucher.  The new process will cut down on paperwork and improve customer service.

The online process is simple and easy.  In just three steps, residents can obtain their vouchers:

1. Go to https://westhartfordct.gov/leafvoucher
2. Fill out the online form
3. Click “Submit”

The form asks for the resident’s name, address, and contractor’s information. Once the information is submitted, it will be available to the staff at the Yard Waste and Recycling Center. No paperwork is necessary.

Private contractors will be required to provide the Yard Waste and Recycling Center with the name and address of their residential customer represented on the voucher. Leaves cannot be disposed without a valid voucher. Vouchers become valid five business days from receipt.

Residents may use as many vouchers as needed during the 9-week collection period but must obtain the voucher prior to the contracted work. This year’s collection period runs from Oct. 29 through Dec. 28, 2018.

Contractors should note the program is for leaves only.  Loads with material other than leaves, including sticks and brush, are subject to rejection. Leaves mixed with sticks and brush can be disposed of at market rates.

Residents who wish to obtain their voucher in person, may do so at any of the locations listed below:

• Town Hall, 50 South Main St., Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Public Works, 17 Brixton St., Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Yard Waste and Recycling Center, 25 Brixton St., Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
• West Hartford Senior Center (Bishops Corner), 15 Starkel Rd., Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Elmwood Senior Center, 1106 New Britain Ave., Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Noah Webster Library, 20 South Main St., Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Faxon Branch Library, 1073 New Britain Ave., Monday and Wednesday, 1-8 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Bishops Corner Branch Library, 15 Starkel Rd., Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday 1-8 p.m., Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

For those who will be using the curbside pick-up, crews will collect leaves bagged in 30-gallon biodegradable paper bags, which can be found for sale at hardware and grocery stores, and there is no limit to the number of bags that will be collected from a single property. Bags should not weigh more than 60 pounds and should not contain branches, sticks, rocks, dirt, grass, or other debris. Bags that do not comply will be marked as rejected and will not be collected.

The collection will take place on your regular trash collection day and bags must be placed at the curb no later 6 a.m. on that day. They can also be placed at the curb because crews sometimes get ahead of schedule and will advance into other areas.

Only properties that receive trash collection through the Town of West Hartford will have their bagged leaves collected.

In addition, Public Works reminds residents that leaves are a state mandated recycling item and cannot be placed in the refuse barrel. They are not eligible for the town’s single stream recycling and cannot be placed in the blue barrel either. According to the Public Works website, barrels containing leaves will not be collected.

Public Works also recommends that residents continue to mow their lawns on a weekly basis, which mulches the leaves in place and cuts down on the volume that needs to be raked and collected.

Residents can also drop off their leaves, in 30-gallon biodegradable bags, at the Yard Waste and Recycling Center at 25 Brixton St. The facility will be open for extended hours on Saturdays, from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m., beginning Oct. 27, 2018, and through Dec. 15. The Center is also open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.  From Dec. 24, 2018, through April 6, 2019, the Yard Waste Center will be closed on Saturdays.  

A permit is required for residents to use the Yard Waste and Recycling Center and can be purchased online or at the facility. Click here for more information about purchasing a permit.

Residents – as well as contractors – are reminded to keep leaves out of the roadway. Leaves in the road can become a traffic hazard, especially in windy or rainy weather, and can clog storm drains and drainage areas which may cause flooding.

For more information call 860-561-8100 or visit www.WestHarttfordCT.gov/PublicWorks.

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