Where Do All The Leaves Go?

From now until the end of 2011, there will be just one thing on the minds of employees - leaves.

The township started its leaf collection program last week and for those employed by the department, there will be nothing more important than leaves, leaves, and more leaves and making sure every last one is picked up.

“It’s all-hands-on-deck in terms of the leaf collection in town,” said Public Works Director Thomas Williams. “We have four crews each with four or five employees, and it’s what we concentrate on completely in November and December. It’s our focus. It’s our highest priority, getting leaves up in that time period.”

Loose leaf collection in East Brunswick starts this week, with bagged leaf pick up beginning last week. During the next several months, township crews will pick up and dispose of 7,500 to 8,000 tons of leaves.

“In East Brunswick, there are four methods that people can use to dispose of their leaves,” said Williams. “They can rake them to the curb loose for pick up; they can bag them, we give out free and they’re picked up on recycling day; they can have a landscape contractor, by permit, drop leaves to the leaf site; or if you want, and many people bring them to the Recycling Center.”

Once picked up, leaves are taken to a compost site on Edgeboro Road where they are maintained throughout the year and turned into compost. That compost is then taken to the nearby landfill and used to cover the property. The compost site is the same place the township brings debris picked up following storms such as Hurricane Irene and the snowstorm on Oct. 29.

“All the leaves we collected last year in 2010 have been completely composted and are out of the site and have been brought to the landfill for cover,” said Williams.

Loose leaf collection will run until Friday, Dec. 30, and bagged pick up will run until Friday, Dec. 23.

“We divide the town into four sections and spend about two weeks in each section,” said Williams. “Then we go back to the first section and mop up the town one last time.”

Bagged leaves will be collected on scheduled recycling dates. Only leaves placed in biodegradable bags will be collected, which are available at the . Brush, dirt, branches and trash should not be placed in the bags.

Loose leaves should not be brought to the curb until seven days before the scheduled pick up, and all raking should be done before the pick up. Remove all brush, branches, soil and yard waste and don’t block storm water catch basins.