This week we would like to highlight a service provided by the Public Works street department. The City of Carthage Leaf Removal program is an asset to the city and value to the residents of Carthage. The purpose of this program is to eliminate the excess of leaf build-up along city streets that can cause storm water drains to clog. These efforts help prevent flooding and reduce negative impacts throughout the city. Leaves collected during this program are taken to the Recycling Center where they are turned into compost.
Did you know? This last season the Street Department made 2,591 residential stops, turning 295 loads of leaves into compost at the Recycling Center. That is twenty-one more loads than last year. During the season, which is November thru December each year, daily stops are made to pick-up the leaves. This takes 3 crews, approximately 16 employees to operate the machines and leaf blowers daily for over two months straight. That is pretty impressive!
Prior to this program, residents would rake the leaves and burn them in the roadways. This caused smoke hazards and complaints, as well as, the storm water drains to be plugged causing major issues with flood water.
In the beginning, the crews used leaf rakes, a front-end loader and a back hoe to remove the leaves. This was a trying and cumbersome process. It also took five months to complete. In 2008, a grant was submitted to Region M Waste Management for a leaf collection system. Region M’s focus is to implement sustainable programs that ensure solid waste is managed in such a way that protects public health and the environment resulting in cleaner communities and a positive impact on the economy. The grant was awarded and we purchased our first leaf collection machine. This transformed the process and increased efficiency greatly. We went from 10 dump truck loads to 1 load with the machine. There were still inefficiencies to workout, the crew was still using leaf rakes, which slowed down the process. With the purchase of leaf blowers instead, this doubled the efficiency of leaf pick-up. In 2020, a 2nd leaf collection system was purchased, increasing efficiency and production even more.
With the improved efficiencies and more structure to the program, this also made it much easier for residents to prepare for leaf pick-up. The crews follow a grid of the city, divided into four quadrants. Crews work through the city in a clockwise rotation and make two passes to each residence throughout the months of November-December. A map of the route is displayed on the Public Works Facebook page daily, during the season.
A couple of friendly reminders:
- Leaf collection areas are to be free of oil waste, chemical contaminants, tree limbs, cans, rocks, bricks, garbage, or any other foreign objects or substances.
- Residents may take leaves to the Recycling Center at any time of the year at no charge.
- There is FREE compost at the Recycling Center, thanks to this wonderful program.
On behalf of the Public Works Department and the Street Superintendent, Josiah Bayless THANK YOU for another successful season!