Orangetown Promoting Shredding, Mulching Leaves

The Orangetown Highway Department began its annual leaf pickup program Monday, but the town is also supporting an alternative to removing leaves.

Orangetown Supervisor Andy Stewart and the highway department have been working with Curti's Landscaping in Valley Cottage to promote shredding and mulching leaves, which can save money and make for healthier grass.

The idea is to use a lawn mower to shred leaves where they fall and allow them to biodegrade on the spot rather than blow or rake them into a pile to be hauled away. More information is available on Westchester County's Love 'Em and Leave 'Em website here. 

"Leaf removal costs Orangetown homeowners, not to mention our town government, a lot of money, so I am encouraging the 'shred them and leave them' approach, which is also great for the environment," Stewart said. "It really works."

Stewart and Curti Landscaping recently put on a demonstration in Tappan. Curti explained the positives, including the benefits to soil and grass to have mulch made of leaves from a tree that grows in that soil. She said her company is charging customers for hauling away leaves and itemizing that on the bill for the first time, encouraging them instead to go for on-site leaf shredding. She said that a typical customer can save from $150 to $200 per season by opting out of leaf removal service. 

Curti acknowledged that one drawback for some customers is that the leaves are still visible on the grass and some people want their lawns to look cleaner. 

Director Aric Gorton and Foreman Jim Wilson from the Orangetown Parks & Recreation Department attended the demonstration, primarily to see if Curti used methods any different from theirs. They said that Orangetown has been shredding leaves in place for years.

"It's a time saver for us," Gorton said. "To just go back over the leaves a couple of times and shred them up is a lot better than going around with a big vac and disposing of them or piling them out on the side of the road for highway, which they probably wouldn't appreciate. I don't think they need that added volume. 

"We're mowing the area once a week anyway."

One question about the method is having to go over the same grass with the mower more than once, but Wilson said it still saves time.

"You figure it takes twice as long to pick them up." Wilson said. "This way, you just mulch them and it's done. Say the guy has to go over them two or three times. It's still faster than if you pick them up."

Stewart proposed a resolution to the Orangetown Council supporting the shredding and mulching of leaves. The other members of the council chose not to support it at the Oct. 22 meeting, arguing that a resolution was not needed, but they spoke in favor of promoting the practice. 

"I commend you for bringing up the topic," Councilman Tom Morr said to Stewart. "I think it is a great idea to promote it. I was a little uncomfortable passing a formal resolution. If we do a resolution, there will be misconceptions."

"We are all in agreement (with promoting it), but not with the resolution," Councilman Denis Troy said.