Photo by María Helena Carey
Although it’s only mid-October, many of the trees around the neighborhood are starting to lose their leaves. The Department of Public Works (DPW), in addition to handling your trash collection and your car towing… uh.. needs, also handles leaf collection around the neighborhood. The site should be updated soon for the 2015-2016 season, but if you’re already struggling with your fallen leaves, here are a few tips to help you out:
- Rake leaves into tree boxes the weekend before DPW collects leaves in your street. In some parts of the city, collection starts the first week of November.
- Only rake leaves, as larger items can break down DPW’s “vacuuming” equipment.
- Remember that most of these leaves will become city mulch, so keep it clean!
- Because they can catch fire or cause massive drain clogs, keep the leaves only in tree boxes.
- If you bag up your leaves, they won’t be used as mulch.
As the city makes its two yearly passes down your street, you can follow the progress of your neighborhood via this interactive map: http://leaf.dcgis.dc.gov
Happy leaves-dropping!
Or leave your bagged leaves at the Virginia Ave community garden and we’ll use them in our composter!
Thanks! I will update my post with this info. Anywhere in the garden? In paper bags only, or can they also be bagged in plastic bags?
I think plastic is a bit better because it won’t disintegrate if we don’t use the leaves right away. If the garden’s unlocked you can put it next to the composter, which is the wood box structure directly to your right when you walk in. Or leave by the gate to the garden if it’s not open.
Also please don’t put the leaves in the composter (which should be locked anyway). You need to be a member of the compost co-op and undergo training to know how to fill it properly. 🙂
This is so great! Thank you for the info!!! (I’m thinking this could be its own post)