West Hartford’s leaf collection will begin the week of Nov. 1, 2021.

Submitted

The Town of West Hartford will be offering a bagged leaf collection program for residential properties from Monday, Nov. 1 through Friday, Dec. 17, 2021.

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

Leaf bags and carts must be free of grass, twigs, rocks, and trash, and should not weigh more than 40 lbs. 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.

You may purchase a Yard Waste cart through the town’s website.

Please note: BRUSH WILL NOT BE COLLECTED DURING LEAF COLLECTION SEASON. Bring woody waste to the Recycling Center for proper processing.

Please DO NOT place leaf bags and leaf piles in the street because they pose a traffic hazard, especially when the weather is windy or rainy, clog storm drains which results in flooding, 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, as well.

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 reduce to a fine leaf mulch. This is a good source of nitrogen for your lawn, which will encourage growth in the spring. Leaf compost also enriches the soil in vegetable gardens and flowerbeds.

If you don’t want to wait for the weekly pick up, residents may bring their bagged leaves to the Yard Waste and Recycling Center at 25 Brixton Street 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. 30, 2021. The facility is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays until Dec. 18, 2021. 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 Street, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturdays beginning Oct. 23, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Permit pricing is as follows:

• Passenger vehicles, SUVs, CUVs, and minivans w/o trailer – $10.00
• Passenger vehicles, SUVs CU’s and minivans w/ trailer – $15.00
• Pick-up trucks, full size vans, w/o trailer – $25.00
• Pick-up trucks, full size vans w/ trailer – $ 35.00

For more information on the 2021 Leaf Collection program, visit the Department of Public Works website.

Residential Leaf Vouchers

The Town of West Hartford has 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. 25, 2021, residents will be able to apply for residential leaf vouchers online, by phone, or in person. The vouchers are only valid from Nov. 1 through Dec. 17.  The online process is simple and easy. In just three steps, residents can obtain their vouchers:

1. Go to the website.
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 leaf bag collection season.

Residents may use as many vouchers as needed during the leaf bag collection period but must obtain the voucher prior to the contracted work. This year’s collection period runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 17, 2021.

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

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

For more information call 860-561-8100 or visit www.WestHartfordCT.gov/PW.

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