West Hartford's Leaf Collection: Everything You Need To Know

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Town officials this week have announced rules and regulations for how residents can have those pesky leaves taken away from their year.

But there is some work to do.

The Town of West Hartford offers a bagged leaf collection program for residential properties from Monday, Oct. 30, through Friday, Dec. 15.

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

Residents should place leaves in either 30-gallon biodegradable paper leaf bags on in a specially marked yard waste cart purchased through the town.

The cart is the equivalent of three, 30-gallon leaf bags. (To order a cart, call 860-561-8100 or visit https://westhartford.seamlessdocs.com/f/Barrel). The cost is $90.

Leaf bags are typically found at hardware stores such as Lowes, Home Depot, and Ace, as well as grocery stores.

Leaf bags and carts must be free of grass, twigs, rocks and trash, and should not weigh more than 40 pounds and carts must weigh less than 50 pounds or they will be marked for rejection and not collected.

There is no limit to the number of bags a resident can place at the curb.

No plastic bags or loose piles are allowed.

All people need to do is place leaf bags or carts at the curb by 6 a.m. on the regular 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 trash day.

Brush will not be collected during leaf collection season and wood waste and yard waste can go to the recycling center for proper processing.

"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," wrote the Town of West Hartford.

The town's compliance officer routinely monitors collection areas and will issue written warnings and then fines for each day 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, folks can consider mulching leaves with your mower.

"Make a couple of passes over your lawn until leaves are reduced to a fine leaf mulch," wrote the town. "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."

Residents can also bring their 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.

The facility is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to Noon (through December).

Yard Waste Permits

An annual permit is required to use the recycling facility.

Permits may be purchased online with a credit card.

Permits may be picked up or purchased in person with a credit card at public works on Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 .m. only. The office is closed for lunch from Noon to 1 p.m.

Permit pricing is as follows:

• Passenger Vehicles, SUVs, CUV and Minivans w/o trailer - $10
• Passenger Vehicles, SUVs, CUVs and Minivans w/trailer - $15
• Pick-up trucks, Full-size vans, w/o trailer - $25
• Pick-up trucks, Full-size vans w/ trailer - $ 35

For more information on the 2023 West Hartford Leaf Collection program, visit the Department of Public Works website or call the West Hartford Department of Public Works at 860-561-8100.