Fall Leaves and Clogged Storm Drains
By Charlie Schachter, Associate Member
There’s good news and bad news regarding fall leaves in Morris Township.
The good news is that our township partners with Morris County to compost the leaves collected in the fall. Assuming that collected leaves are free of other plant material, they are composted instead of dumped into landfills. (This is the same free compost available behind the Public Safety Training facility on Hanover Avenue.)
The bad news is that most township residents and their landscapers blow or rake large piles of leaves onto streets. Piles of leaves in the streets create two problems. First, leaves get washed into storm drains (i.e., catch basins), clogging them and causing flooding. Storm drains flow directly to local lakes, rivers, and wetlands, acting as a conduit for trash and organic pollutants. Keeping drains clear of leaves, trash, and other debris can reduce water pollution.
The second problem is public safety. With large piles of leaves on both sides of the street, drivers lose visibility and are forced into dangerous traffic situations, especially as the daylight hours decrease. Children are less safe playing in their neighborhood when leaf piles block the flow of traffic or when wet leaves make the streets slippery.
What should residents and their landscapers do with leaves in the fall? Leaves are to be placed at the curb, but not on the street surfaces. Leaves should never spill off the curb and onto the asphalt of the street. Leaves should be not less than 10 feet from a storm drain.
Many residents falsely believe that leaves will hurt their lawn. But only a thick mat of leaves that remains on your lawn for weeks is likely to harm the grass. The Township will pick up your leaves long before that happens.
What else can you do with fall leaves other than having them hauled away at the expense of taxpayers? Consider using a mulching mower to chop leaves into small pieces. They will fall back onto the lawn where the organic material will benefit the soil. You can also spread 3 to 6 inches of the chopped leaves as mulch in beds and around trees and shrubs. If you don’t have a mulching mower, make a couple of extra passes over the lawn with a regular mower to chop the leaves, without the benefit of a mower bag. This task should be done frequently, before the leaves become too deep to manage.
Bottom-line: speak to your landscaper or make these changes yourself. Never put leaves in the street and consider mulching leaves instead. You’ll save energy and money, and put valuable nutrients back into your landscape.