2022 Leaf Collection A Weighty Task For Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — One dried leaf of autumn weighs just about nothing, able to ride a breeze above the trees while darting along the whims of the whispering fall wind.

But in Southington this past fall, well, tons more leaves fell and were collected by the Southington Department of Public Works this fall compared to last year — literally.

In fact, it was lot more, so much so it elicited only one clear response when the news was broke earlier this month to the Southington Town Council.

"Wow."

Councilman Michael Del Santo is chairman of the town's public works committee and during his regular report to the council Dec. 12, he dropped a little numerical bombshell about leaf pickup.

He said the DPW reported collecting 7,685 tons of leafy tree refuse compared to 5,448 tons from a year ago, prompting one councilman exclaim "wow" when Del Santo gave his report.

That amounts to 2,237 tons more leaves were collected this year, the last day of collection being Dec. 6.

Whether more people were putting leaves by the roadside or the winds simply didn't blow as many leaves away this year compared to last year, no one offered up a reason for the increase.

But, Del Santo said the town this year was able to do two complete passes with leaf-sucking trucks this year, which may account for the extra leaves in 2022.

"I think that it was really interesting to see those numbers," he said.

For 2023, Del Santo did offer up a rather unique community contest suggestion, even if it may have been in jest.

"Next year, we're going to have a contest. We're going to have folks vote and see how much tonnage," Del Santo said laughing.

For the minutes of the Dec. 12 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.