Leaf Collection Schedule for All Newark Wards

Newark's Leaf Recycling Collection program beings today, Monday.

Leaf pickups will be made in the South, Central and West Wards on Mondays and Tuesdays between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. Leaf pickups in the North and East Wards will be on Thursdays and Fridays between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will be no pickups in any ward on holidays.

Newark residents age 62 and older, showing proper identification, can receive up to 15 brown paper biodegradable bags free of charge from the city. The bags may be obtained at the city Recycling Office (62 Frelinghuysen Ave.).

“Through the cooperation of our residents, I am confident that we can keep our storm sewers free of leaves and ensure that we can dispose of our leaves in ways that contribute to a more environmentally-friendly Newark,” said Neighborhood and Recreational Services Director Tharien Karim Arnold.

The Department of Neighborhood and Recreational Services offered the following tips to residents on removing leaves from your premises:

• Whenever possible, store leaves in a backyard compost bin. This method is preferred to reduce waste at the source.

• Leaves must be placed in a bio-degradable paper bag, which can be purchased from most hardware stores. Do not use plastic bags. Failure to use a bio-degradable paper bag will result in fines and the leaves will not be collected.

• Leaf bags must not contain branches, shrub clippings, or any foreign matter.

• Do not rake leaves into the street. Due to state regulations, all leaves must be bagged in bio-degradable bags and placed at the curb. Failure to comply may result in fines ranging from $100 to a maximum of $1,000.

• Residents wishing to immediately dispose of their leaves may bring the bags to the city recycling depot, located at 62 Frelinghuysen Avenue, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., until Monday, December 31, 2012.

• If a city resident is using a contracted landscaper for lawn maintenance, the landscaper is responsible for disposing of the leaves.