Gonna Leaf This Here: As Leaves About To Fall, Pickup Starts Soon

BRANFORD, CT — After the pile has been jumped in, and frolicked in and re-raked, here's when to expect leaf pick-up.

And, also brush chipping updates.

All good information from the town's recycling administrative assistant Sharon Heslin.

Once-a-week leaf collection begins Oct. 18 and continues through Dec. 16. on regular pick-up days. Some notes: On Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day, collection will be delayed a day. On Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, collection will be delayed until Nov. 26 and the Transfer Station will be open Nov. 27.

What you need to know about preparing leaves for pick-up

Make sure that leaves are out the night before your collection day. All leaves must be placed in brown paper leaf bags or loose in trash cans, not in plastic bags, even if the "bags claim to be biodegradable, leaves placed in plastic bags will not be picked up." Residents are asked to pick up all litter first and never mix leaves with rocks, soil, branches or other debris. Leaves should not be raked into the street, piled at the curb, or placed in wetlands, streams, drains or Branford Land Trust property. Paper leaf bags are available for purchase at many Branford retailers including Big Y, Caron’s Corner, Richlin’s, Super Stop & Shop, Walgreen’s and Walmart.

Leaves can also be brought to the compost site behind the transfer station at any time of year. A Branford resident sticker is required.

All about chipping, and free mulch

Starting Oct. 4 and continuing through Oct. 6, will be under way at the Transfer Station facility. The way it works: residents bring brush, the town chips it into mulch and then gives it away, while supplies last.

The town says that for "safety reasons" it cannot let anyone in the back of the property while the machine is running, so on chipping days, it cannot accept leaves or brush.

For more information, call the Transfer Station at 203-483-8641.

Meanwhile, also not that the Transfer Station will be closed Oct. 11 and that all curbside collections will be delayed one day that week.