West Hartford’s leaf collection will begin the week of Oct. 30, 2023.

Submitted

The Town of West Hartford will be offering its seasonal bagged leaf collection program for residential properties from Monday, Oct. 30 through Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.

Leaves are collected every week, on your regular refuse collection day. Crews will collect leaves bagged placed at the curb either in 30-gallon biodegradable paper bags or in the 96-gallon brown yard waste cart.

All leaves must be placed in 30-gallon biodegradable bags or a brown bin. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

Bi-weekly collection of yard waste – including brush and woody waste – will end for the season as of Oct. 27 and will resume in April 2024, according to the an announcement by the town. Yard waste can still be brought to the Recycling and Yard Waste Center at 25 Brixton Street for disposal, and a permit is required.

Due to the reorganization and operation of the Yard Waste and Recycling Center, residential leaf vouchers are no longer accepted.

In order to participate in the leaf collection program, leaf bags and carts must 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.

Leaf bags or carts should be placed 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 bags before the regular trash day, but will also make another sweep on the regular collection day.

Public Works asks that resident refrain from placing leaf bags and piles in the street because they present 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.

Residents have the option to purchase a 95-gallon cart for yard waste. The cart is the equivalent of three, 30-gallon leaf bags. The cost to purchase the cart is $90. You may purchase a Yard Waste cart by clicking here.

Public Works advises that 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,” town officials stated.

Residents may also 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.

Hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. until noon, through the end of December.

Permits for the Yard Waste and Recycling Center can be purchased online with a credit card, and may be picked up or purchased in-person with a credit card at Public Works, Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. only. (Office is closed for lunch from noon until 1 p.m.) According to the Public Works website, “day permits are available on an exception basis.”

For more information call 860-561-8100 or visit the website.

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