Leaf Collection (Huntsville, Decatur: house, to buy, Lowes)

[mm42]

City of Huntsville, Alabama *** Huntsville *** Alabama *** (http://www.ci.huntsville.al.us/PWO/LeafCollection.php#Schedule - broken link)

So I just put my loose leaves out at the street and they pick them up? This seems too good to be true.

The guidelines say not to put them in the gutter, but all the piles I see around town are in the gutter, and even the picture on the website (link above) shows them sucking leaves out of the gutter. So I guess they are just kidding about that part?

[33458]

I'm not sure, but that is what I saw last year - leaves deposited right at the roadside curb. No bags.

I'm planning to buy a composter...then I'll take ALL your leaves.

About the gutter - they may be referring to grated water drains proper (?) - or any other utility...if the debris is placed too close to a 'box', it won't be picked up - to avoid damage by the crane or other mechanical device.

[Reactionary]

It's true. The City uses big vacuum cleaners to get the leaves. Most people seem to ignore the part about not putting the pile in the gutter, but it does clog drains. The problem with 'curbing' the leaves is that it can take weeks for the City to pick up your leaves, killing your grass.

The City prefers bagged leaves, put out on your regular trash schedule.

IIRC the City uses the leaves for fuel at the Waste-to-Energy (steam) plant.

I mow over my leaves (mulch), which is good for the soil. I'll have to do it a couple of times, making sure that I don't let the leaves / mulch pile up and smother the grass.

As 33458 said, a compost pile is a good idea too. Except I'm too cheap, er frugal, to buy a composter. I have about three piles I rotate. BTW, I also raid neighbor's bagged grass (from nice weed-free lawns) for compost.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

The City prefers bagged leaves, put out on your regular trash schedule.

I called the trash department a couple of weeks ago. Instead of bags I just bought a big (35 gallon?) trashcan at lowes for like $25. I find it a lot easier to pour the grass clippings into it than to pour leaves into a bag - harder on my back.

Also, the lady at the city explained there is a difference between trash and garbage. One is the stuff from inside your house and the other is like grass, branches, leaves, etc. Now I forget which is which but I was surprised trash and garbage are two different things.

[Southlander]

Garbage - kitchen and household refuse.
Trash - leaves, limbs. In the fall, they usually want them separated. In the fall, no bagged leaves - remember that vacuum truck? It can't vacuum whole bags (and limbs), and they don't stop to dump out leaves. In other seasons, bag the leaves. Limbs are fed into a grinder.
In Decatur, they take the leaves and trash and make mulch out of it, which is offered free to the public.