Each
fall, the Town receives many inquiries from citizens regarding the leaf
collection program. The following
information may be useful in understanding the 2007 Leaf
Collection Program. If you have
questions which are not answered here, please contact the Customer Service &
Information Center at 647-5235.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Ø
How has
the Leaf Collection Program changed from previous years?
Answer:
As with last year, each street will be scheduled for ONE vacuum collection only.
The town is divided into 2
collection areas. The first area will be
collected starting November 5th; the second area starting
November 19th.
Ø
What
other ways can I dispose of my leaves?
Answer:
Residents have two other options for disposing of leaves:
1) You can put the
leaves out at the curb in paper bags. Leaf bags can be purchased at the
Customer Service & Information Center in Town Hall, at the Landfill on
Olcott St., or at the Senior Citizens Center, 549 East Middle Turnpike. They can
be put out for curbside collection on the day of your regular trash pick up from
March 15 through January 11th of each year.
2) You can also bring
loose or paper bagged leaves to the Leaf-Drop-off location adjacent to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility from November 1 through December 31. (No brush or plastic bags, please.)
Ø
Where
should I put my leaves for vacuum pickup?
Answer:
Leaves shall be raked to the edge of your property along the street.
Do not cover sidewalks or block streets with leaf piles.
Ø
The
Town
has already picked up leaves on my street. Will
they be coming back?
Answer:
No, each street will have only ONE vacuum collection. If all the leaves
haven’t fallen yet and the trucks have been through your street, you still
have the option of putting them in paper bags for curbside collection, bringing them to the Landfill or the Leaf Drop-off location adjacent to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.
Ø
What if it snows before the
program is over and the leaves haven't been picked up?
Answer: The Town Highway department will resume leaf
collection when weather conditions allow. If we experience significant early
snow or cold weather conditions, our leaf machines can no longer be used to
collect leaves. In some cases this may require the use of other equipment such
as front-end loaders to remove leaf piles.
Ø
I’m hiring a contractor to rake my leaves. When should I have
him put them out to edge of my property?
Answer:
The Town has attempted to notify contractors and landscapers doing business in
Manchester with a mailing about the Leaf Collection Program and schedule.
Vacuum Collection will begin
November 5th th in Area 1, and will begin November 19th in
Area 2. The listing of streets in
each area can be found on our web site, http://publicworks.townofmanchester.org/leafroutes/
or follow the link Route
Schedule
You can also call the Customer Service & Information Center at
647-5235 to find out which Area your street is in. We advise that leaves be
raked to the edge of your property in advance of the area start date.
Ø
Why didn’t they vacuum in front of my house?
Answer: The truck might have been full and they returned to the landfill
composting area to empty it or the weather might have interfered. If it snows, the
Highway department has to stop the collection to change the equipment
on the truck for snow and ice removal. If there were any vehicles parked in
front of your house, crews would not
have been able to get to the leaves.
You
can call the Customer Service and Information Center at 647-5235 to see if there
was a particular reason why your leaves were not picked up. Our office is open
from 8 am – 5 pm (M-F).
Ø
I raked my leaves and now my neighbor who never rakes has let
their leaves blow all over my lawn. What do I do with their leaves?
Answer:
If you want the leaves disposed of, you need to prepare them for one of the 3
options: vacuuming, curbside paper bag collection, or delivery to one of the
drop off sites.
Ø
I can’t afford to hire a contractor to remove my leaves for me.
Who can help?
Answer:
The Youth Sevice Bureau “Rent a Teen” program may be an option to assist
with leaf or snow removal. For a
reasonable fee you can arrange to have a teen do the work for you.
You can call Manchester Youth Services at 647-5213 to
get information on the
Rent a Teen program. The staff at the Customer Service & Information Center may also be able to refer you to some church groups and
volunteers that can provide assistance.