WH: Everything You Need To Know About Unloading Leaves (But Were Afraid To Ask)

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The official end of the Halloween season Monday, Oct. 31, marks the official beginning of the town taking away those pesky fallen leaves from your property.

The Town of West Hartford offers a bagged leaf collection program for residential properties from Monday, Oct. 31, through Friday, Dec. 16.

According to a recent announcement by the town, each week on the regular refuse collection days, crews will collect leaves bagged in 30-gallon biodegradable paper bags or in the brown yard waste carts.

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

Town officials said there is no limit to the number of bags a resident can place at the curb.

All folks need to do is place their leaf bags or carts at the curb by 6 a.m. on the trash collection day, or sooner, and a truck will come by to pick them up.

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

Barrels

Residents can also purchase a 96-gallon cart for yard waste.

The cart is the equivalent of three 30-gallon leaf bags. The cost to purchase the cart is $90 and they may purchase a yard waste cart by clicking here.

Residents should bring "woody waste," such as brush, to the recycling center for proper processing.

The town says people shouldn't place leaf bags and leaf piles in the street, because they pose a traffic hazard, especially when the weather is windy or rainy.

They can clog storm drains, which results in flooding and impede snow-plowing operations.

Town officials said a compliance officer routinely monitors collection areas and will issue written warnings and then fines for each day the leaves remain in the street.

Leaf bags and piles should not block pedestrian sidewalks, as well.

Other Options
There are other options to bagging leaves.

For example, town officials say people might consider mulching leaves with a mower.

This can be done by making a couple of passes over a lawn until leaves are reduce to a fine leaf mulch.

Local officials said this is a good source of nitrogen for a lawn, which will encourage growth in the spring.

Leaf compost can also enrich the soil in vegetable gardens and flowerbeds, according to the town.
Drop off leaves

Those who don't want to wait for the weekly pick up, can bring 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.

There are extended Saturday hours for fall yard material drop-off at the Yard Waste and Recycling Center.

The facility is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays until Dec. 17. Weekday hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Yard Waste Permits

Meanwhile, 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 Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Permit pricing is as follows:

• Passenger Vehicles, SUVs, CUV's and minivans without trailer - $10

• Passenger Vehicles, SUVs CUVs and minivans with trailer - $15

• Pickup trucks, full-size vans, without trailer - $25

• Pick-up trucks, full size vans with trailer - $35

For more information on the 2022 Leaf Collection program, visit the Department of Public Works website at this link.

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.

Residents will be able to apply for residential leaf vouchers online, by phone or in person.

In just three steps, residents can obtain their vouchers:

1 - Go to the website https://westhartford.seamlessd...

2 - Fill out the online form

3 - Click 'Submit'

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.

The voucher can only be used during the collection period of Oct. 31 to Dec. 16.

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.