Leaf Collection Program In Scarsdale Village

The following is a statement from Mayor Miriam Levitt Flisser. She gave this address at this week's Board of Trustees meeting:

The Village's Leaf Collection Program, which collects approximately 29,000 CY of leaves each year, began on October 22, and will continue to about December 7. Depending on weather conditions, at least one collection is planned each month for each street utilizing two leaf vacuum trucks in each of the Village's seven leaf collection sections.

The leaf collection schedule is displayed and updated on a weekly basis on Scarsdale's Government Access Channel 75 and Verizon Channel 43, as well as the Village's website.

Residents may rake leaves to the curb line or the edge of pavement for collection or place leaves in biodegradable paper bags that can be left at the curb for weekly collections by Village crews. Residents are reminded not to include branches, grass, dirt, stones, etc., mixed with leaves and that leaves may not be raked into the street.

Residents can also bring leaves from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday - Saturday in loose or biodegradable paper bags to the Recycling Yard Center at 110 Secor Road, free of charge. Contractors working for residents may also dispose leaves at the Recycling Yard Center once they obtain a free permit from the Department of Public Works.

With that said, this year the Village is encouraging an alternative method to deal with fall leaves–leaf mulching. Leaf mulching involves shredding leaves in place and utilizing the shredded leaves as mulch and/or compost for the lawn or planting beds. The re-use of this organic material results in environmental and economic benefits that include a reduction in leaf collection and disposal costs, enhanced safety and stormwater drainage and improved quality and health of landscapes.

The Village Board of Trustees endorsed this practice via resolution dated December 13, 2011 and encourages all Village property owners and residents to mulch or compost their leaves on their property. The Village will also be implementing leaf mulching techniques this Fall at Chase and de Lima Parks to demonstrate the benefits of leaf mulching. More information about leaf mulching can be found on the Village's website by clicking the Love'EM and Leave'EM logo located on the homepage.