Livingston Fall Leaf Guide 2017: Collection Dates, Grass Clippings, Free Bags

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Are the leaves piling up, Livingston? Here’s what you can do about it this autumn.

The following information comes courtesy of Livingston Township. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Livingston Facebook page here.

Livingston Township will be divided into three sections for the 2017 annual Leaf Collection Program. Leaves may only be placed in the street gutter on the specific dates listed in the 2017 Leaf Collection Program Schedule for each respective week and section.

“Our Public Works employees do a great job on leaf collection every year,” said DPW Superintendent Mike Anello. “Every year, we publish our Leaf Collection Program Schedule, along with a reminder to our residents of the rules and guidelines for the program.”

“We want our residents to know that we understand that nature may not always cooperate with their particular collection week on the schedule,” continued Anello. “And that’s okay, because near the end of the program, we go back and forth through all of the sections and make pickups. If residents get the leaves out there by Dec. 3, they’ll be picked up.”

The New Jersey Stormwater Management Rules state that leaves may not be placed any closer than 10 feet from any storm drain inlet or catch basin and can only be left in the street gutter for a maximum period of 7 days prior to their scheduled collection date.

The Township of Livingston is required by the State of New Jersey to enforce the Stormwater Management Rules; therefore, failure to follow the leaf collection schedule and requirements could result in warnings and fines being issued to both the resident and respective landscape contractor. Township of Livingston Ordinance Chapter 178, “Littering,” contains the requirements for disposing of grass clippings and leaves. Residents must adhere to the following:

Grass Clippings:

1. DO NOT dispose of grass clippings by placing them or causing them to end up on adjacent property (i.e., through air blowers or other mechanical equipment.

2. DO NOT dispose of grass clippings by depositing them in any catch basin or sewer, or by leaving them along any curb line or gutter.

3. DO dispose of grass clippings only by putting them in a container or bag.

Leaves:

1. DO NOT dispose of leaves by placing them or causing them to be on adjacent property (i.e., through air blowers or other mechanical equipment.

2. DO NOT dispose of leaves by depositing them in any catch basin or sewer.

3. DO dispose of leaves in a container or bag, except during the scheduled annual Leaf Collection Program, when they must be left at the curb line for collection.

4. DO place leaves at the curb line or in the gutter of that portion of the public street adjacent to the property from which the leaves are being disposed only during the annual Leaf Collection Program, according to the times and dates in the published Leaf Collection Program Schedule.

5. DO NOT place leaves closer than 10 feet from any storm drain inlet or catch basin.

6. DO place leaves in the street gutter for a maximum period of only 7 days before the scheduled collection date.

7. DO – if you live on Essex County or NJ State roads – place leaves for disposal either in paper leaf bags which have been provided by the Township, or their equivalent.

8. DO NOT place leaves at the curb lines of the following streets, which are Essex County and NJ State roads: Beaufort Avenue, East Cedar Street, Eisenhower Parkway, East/West Hobart Gap Road, Kennedy Parkway, Laurel Avenue, South/North Livingston Avenue, East/West Northfield Road, Old Short Hills Road, Parsonage Hill Road, Passaic Avenue, Shrewsbury Drive, South Orange Avenue, Walnut Street and State Highway Rt. 10 (East/West Mt. Pleasant Avenue). Leaves along these roads must be bagged.

9. DO understand that anyone who does not follow the requirements for disposing of grass clippings and leaves may be subject to a fine as established in Chapter 178, “Littering,” of the Township of Livingston General Ordinances.

The 2017 Livingston Township Leaf Collection Program Schedule is as follows:

Section 1: Area north of East/West of Mount Pleasant Avenue.
Section 2: Area south of East & West Mount Pleasant Avenue and north of East & West Northfield Road.
Section 3: Area south of East & West Northfield Road and West Mount Pleasant Avenue west of the traffic circle.

For more information on sections, or to find a specific street, visit the “Alphabetical ROAD LIST of Leaf Collection Sections” found on the Leaf Collection page of the township website, livingstonnj.org.

Leaf collection on Essex County Roads and State Highway Rt. 10 will occur once per week during the 2017 leaf collection season.

The final date leaves may be placed in the gutter for collection on municipal streets is Dec. 3, 2017.

The final date that paper bagged leaves may be placed at the curb for collection on Essex County roads and State Highway Rt. 10 is Dec. 3, 2017.

Reminder: Properties on Essex County roads and State Highway Rt. 10 (East/West Mt. Pleasant Avenue) must place leaves for disposal in paper bags which have been either provided by the Township or are their equivalent. No unbagged leaves for disposal may be placed at the curb line on County or State roads. Bagged leaves will only be collected on County and State Roads.

For questions or concerns about the leaf collection process, regulations or schedule, call 973-992-5000 ext. #5522, or visit the Township website at livingstonnj.org:

• Click the Service Request icon to send a question or concern, or
• Look up a street or section by visiting the Leaf Collection page, or
• Click on Leaves & Landscapers under Popular Links.

Residents with a landscape contractor: Please share the requirements for grass and leaf collection disposal, along with the Leaf Collection Schedule, with your landscape contractor. Landscapers must also follow the dates of the Leaf Collection Program Schedule for the property.

FREE LEAF BAGS

Livingston Township is giving out paper leaf bags to property owners on Essex County roads or State Highway Route 10 (Mt. Pleasant Avenue).

From Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, to Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, residents can pick up leaf bags at the Public Works Garage, 235 S. Livingston Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.

Proof of Livingston address must be provided.

Leaf bags will not be available on Thursday, Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving) and Friday, Nov. 24. State and County roads are:

• Beaufort Avenue
• East Cedar Street
• Eisenhower Parkway
• East & West Hobart Gap Road
• John F. Kennedy Parkway
• Laurel Avenue
• South & North Livingston Avenue
• East & West Northfield Road
• Old Short Hills Road
• Parsonage Hill Road
• Passaic Avenue
• Shrewsbury Drive
• South Orange Avenue
• Walnut Street
• East & West Mt. Pleasant Avenue

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Photo: Flickr Commons / Felipe Venâncio