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Community Corner

Town Leaf Collection Hampered by Storm Clean-Up

New Canaan Public Works expects the storm work to be completed by the end of this week.

Public Works is still focussing on and doing seasonal leaf collection in a limited capacity.

Gregory A. Smith emailed Patch wanting to know: "Where are all the vacuum trucks that are supposed to pick up our leaves? The roads are becoming dangerous. I haven't seen trucks in over 3 weeks".

In response to an email enquiry, Assistant Director of Public Works, Tiger Mann said,  "We have been out on the roads picking up leaves in a limited capacity for several weeks.  We have been focusing our attention on debris clean-up from the storm.  That operation should be completed by week's end. At present we have five trucks on the roads picking up leaves.  We are working in the Old Kings Highway, Oenoke Lane and Summer Street Areas."

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The Leaf Collection Notice states:

"Beginning, Monday, October 31, 2011 vacuum trucks will pick up the leaves raked to curbside by homeowners in those areas of town zoned for building lots of one acre or less. 

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In those areas, please rake all of your leaves into the curb.   DO NOT put leaves in plastic bags or mix them with brush or debris.  The leaves are recycled into garden compost so they must be free of foreign matter.  Debris or sticks will clog the vacuum trucks causing breakdowns and delays.  Leaves must be in a windrow, not in a pile. 

Residents in the 2 or 4 acre zones of town are requested to compost the leaves on their own property.  Vacuum trucks will not collect in those areas. 

Yard maintenance contractors must have proper forms (available at Highway Department office) signed by New Canaan residents before they can dispose of leaves at the composting area, located across from the Waveny entrance on Lapham Road.  Residents may also deposit their leaves at that location. It is important to note that Contractors will be screened to be sure that the leaves originate in New Canaan.  Anyone found violating this policy will be suspended from using the facility for an appropriate period of time as determined by the Director of Public Works. .    

Composted material is usually made available to local residents for use in their gardens to enrich their soil, the following spring.   

The mulch site will be opened daily from 8:00am to 2:30pm during normal working days (call 594-3704 for more specific information).   Leaves may be raked to curbside until Tuesday, Nov 28, 2011, Leaves put out after that date will not be collected by the Highway Department, however the leaf mulch site will be available through Friday, December 9 .2011

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