Keep Leaves Out Of Wetlands & Watercourses In Westport: Conservation Director

Press release from the Town of Westport:

WESTPORT, CT — The Conservation Department reminds Westport residents that both the Regulations for the Protection and Preservation of Wetlands and Watercourses of the Town of Westport, and Westport’s Waterway Protection Line Ordinance prohibit the dumping of leaves and debris in a wetland or a watercourse.

Conservation Director Colin Kelly stated, “The annual fall chore is upon us. We want remind residents throughout town, if you are raking up leaves in an effort to clean up, do not dump them into any wetlands or watercourses.” Kelly continued, “We also want to remind the public that the Leaf Blower Ordinance, approved in January of this year, allows the use of “Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers” between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. This is in effect from now until May 15, 2024.

Additional information may be found on the Conservation Department page on the Town Website: www.westportct.gov.

There are several options available to Westport residents for proper leaf disposal. One option is to compost leaves in the back yard within a fenced area or a composting receptacle, located at least 20 feet away from any wetland or watercourse. Residents can learn the simple techniques of composting by linking to various websites such as:

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home

or

https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Waste-Management-and-Disposal/Organics-Recycling/Composting-and-Organics-Recycling

Another option available to Westport residents with a valid sticker is to deliver collected leaves to the yard waste site at 180 Bayberry Lane, behind the Aspetuck Health District (no plastic bags). The yard waste site is now open Monday through Saturday 7:00 A.M. to 2:45 P.M. Also, the Department of Public Works will begin curbside leaf collection on November 6, 2023, and continues until December 4, 2023.

For more information about leaf removal or the yard waste site, contact the Department of Public Works at 203-341-1120. For more information on wetlands or composting, Contact the Conservation Department at 203-341-1170.

This press release was produced by the Town of Westport. The views expressed here are the author’s own.