West Hartford’s leaf bag collection will begin the week of Oct. 28.

Submitted

The Town of West Hartford offers residential properties a nine-week bagged leaf collection program from Monday, Oct. 28, 2019 to Dec. 27, 2019.

New this year leaves may also be collected when placed in a specially marked Yard Waste cart purchased through the town’s website.

Each week on your regular refuse collection day, crews will collect leaves bagged in 30-gallon biodegradable paper bags or the brown yard waste cart when placed at the curb.

Leaf bags and carts should be free of grass, twigs, rocks, and trash, and should not weigh more than 40 pounds. There is no limit to the number of bags a resident can place at the curb. Simply place your leaf bags or cart at the curb by 6 a.m. on your trash collection day, or sooner, and a truck will come by to pick them up. Crews will advance into other collection areas once they have completed their day’s assignment and may pick-up your bags before your trash day.

Paper leaf bags are commonly found at hardware and grocery stores.

Please note that leaf bags and leaf piles cannot be placed in the street because they pose a hazard to traffic, clog storm drains, and impede snow plowing operations. The town’s compliance officer routinely monitors collection areas and will issue written warnings and then fines for each day that the leaves remain in the street. Leaf bags and piles should not block pedestrian sidewalks either.

There are other options to bagging leaves. Consider mulching your leaves with your mower. Make a couple of passes over your lawn until leaves are ground down into a fine leaf mulch. The end product is a good source of nitrogen for spring growth. Leaf compost also enriches the soil in gardens and flower beds.

Residents who don’t want to wait for the weekly pick up may bring their bagged leaves to the Yard Waste and Recycling Center at 25 Brixton St. and dispose of them there. Leaves in plastic bags will need to be emptied in the appropriate area.

Extended Saturday hours for fall yard material drop-off at the Yard Waste and Recycling Center begin Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. The facility will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays until Dec. 14, 2019. Weekday hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Yard Waste Permits may be purchased at the Recycling Center, 25 Brixton St., Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturday beginning Oct. 27, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Permit pricing is as follows:

• Passenger vehicles, SUV’s, CUV’s, and minivans without trailer – $10.00
• Passenger vehicles, SUV’s, CUV’s and minivans with trailer – $15.00
• Pick-up trucks, full size vans, without trailer – $25.00
• Pick-up trucks, full size vans with trailer – $ 35.00

For more information on the 2019 Leaf Collection program, visit the Department of Public Works website www.westhartfordct.gov/publicworks.

RESIDENTIAL LEAF VOUCHER

The Town of West Hartford 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. 27, 2019, residents will be able to apply for residential leaf vouchers online, by phone, or in person.  The online process is simple and easy. In just three steps, residents can obtain their vouchers:

1. Go to https://westhartford.seamlessdocs.com/f/LeafCollectionVoucher
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 ten (10) business days from receipt.

After 10 days, the resident would need to reapply for a new voucher which gives the contractor permission to make another disposal of leaves from their property. This process would be repeated throughout the nine-week leaf collection season.

Residents may use as many vouchers as needed during the nine-week collection period but must obtain the voucher prior to the contracted work. This year’s collection period runs from Oct. 28 through Dec. 27, 2019.

Contractors should note the program is for leaves only.  Loads with material other than leaves, including sticks and brush, are subject to rejection.

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 on 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.

Residents may also call the Leaf Voucher line at 860-561-8149 to obtain a voucher.

Residents 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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