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Where do all the leaves go?
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| Sue Wells vacuums up leaves while Cory Lambert collects them by hand Tuesday. Leaf collection is in full swing in Beloit this week. Staff photo by Clint Wolf |
By Samantha Johnson
sjohnson@beloitdallynews.com
As the leaves are whipped from their limbs in the coming weeks, piling up on lawns and in gutters, it turns out they have a long journey after their tumble.
Just how many leaves are gathered?
In 2008, nearly 2,800 tons of leaves were collected from curbs in the City of Beloit.
That’s 5.6 million pounds of leaves.
And because the City of Beloit separates leaves into three categories, the leaves have three different destination points. According to Chris Walsh, director of operations for the public works department, over 85 percent of all leaves collected become dirt the following year and are reused as top dressing for road projects, cemeteries and a variety of other uses. Some even end up as bedding for pigs at a local farm.
The “dirty” leaves, or the gutter leaves, picked up by the street sweeper are dumped in a vacant lot on 6th Street. Because these have contaminants, they are sent through a screen and, over time, organically break down.
In addition to leaf drop-offs, the bagged leaves picked up from the curb are taken to Leaflan Compost Center, and after 18 years, Joe Perkins knows when it’s a heavy year for leaves.
“It does appear that the leaves are larger this year,” he said. “People keep telling me that they’ve got a lot more leaves in their yards.”
Perkins has figured that, on the 14 dedicated acres at Leaflan, the breakdown is about 540 pounds of leaves per household.
On a recent day, he was sending the leaves through a grinder, because, as he puts it, “if there are more edges on the leaves, then microbes can do their job.”
It’s not unusual to see heavy steam rising from the piles of leaves as they’re turned to promote the breakdown.
“It gets to be 160 degrees in those piles,” Perkins said.
The third type of leaves — subscriptions — are vacuumed up along the curbs of households. While there are only about 100 households subscribing, the majority of them are on the East side.
Because of that, the city contracted with Walsh Farms on Stateline Road to take those leaves and use them for pig bedding.
“All of these projects have been in place for years and years,” Walsh pointed out.
And although every year is different, “the leaves have been coming down fast, furious and early,” Walsh said. “We’ve had Novembers where leaves were still on the trees at Thanksgiving.”
Walsh encourages all households to have their yard debris on the curb by Nov. 20, because, after that, “we’re done,” she said.
For three weeks, there is a respite from the little yellow tags — because curbside collection of yard waste is free now through Friday, Nov. 20. The collection is for containers of leaves, grass and garden debris. Bundles of branches, limbs and shrubbery are $1.25 per bundle. Yard waste must be contained in paper bags, biodegradable bags or a clean trash container.
Leaflan hours
Leaflan Compost Center is at 6711 W. St. Lawrence, 364-1909
Free for City of Beloit residents (with ID)
In November, hours are 2:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays only
Closed Nov. 26, 27, 28.
Monday and Tuesday - 9 - noon
Wednesday - 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday and Friday - noon - 3 p.m.
Saturday - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Just how many leaves are gathered?
In 2008, nearly 2,800 tons of leaves were collected from curbs in the City of Beloit.
That’s 5.6 million pounds of leaves.
And because the City of Beloit separates leaves into three categories, the leaves have three different destination points. According to Chris Walsh, director of operations for the public works department, over 85 percent of all leaves collected become dirt the following year and are reused as top dressing for road projects, cemeteries and a variety of other uses. Some even end up as bedding for pigs at a local farm.
The “dirty” leaves, or the gutter leaves, picked up by the street sweeper are dumped in a vacant lot on 6th Street. Because these have contaminants, they are sent through a screen and, over time, organically break down.
In addition to leaf drop-offs, the bagged leaves picked up from the curb are taken to Leaflan Compost Center, and after 18 years, Joe Perkins knows when it’s a heavy year for leaves.
“It does appear that the leaves are larger this year,” he said. “People keep telling me that they’ve got a lot more leaves in their yards.”
Perkins has figured that, on the 14 dedicated acres at Leaflan, the breakdown is about 540 pounds of leaves per household.
On a recent day, he was sending the leaves through a grinder, because, as he puts it, “if there are more edges on the leaves, then microbes can do their job.”
It’s not unusual to see heavy steam rising from the piles of leaves as they’re turned to promote the breakdown.
“It gets to be 160 degrees in those piles,” Perkins said.
The third type of leaves — subscriptions — are vacuumed up along the curbs of households. While there are only about 100 households subscribing, the majority of them are on the East side.
Because of that, the city contracted with Walsh Farms on Stateline Road to take those leaves and use them for pig bedding.
“All of these projects have been in place for years and years,” Walsh pointed out.
And although every year is different, “the leaves have been coming down fast, furious and early,” Walsh said. “We’ve had Novembers where leaves were still on the trees at Thanksgiving.”
Walsh encourages all households to have their yard debris on the curb by Nov. 20, because, after that, “we’re done,” she said.
For three weeks, there is a respite from the little yellow tags — because curbside collection of yard waste is free now through Friday, Nov. 20. The collection is for containers of leaves, grass and garden debris. Bundles of branches, limbs and shrubbery are $1.25 per bundle. Yard waste must be contained in paper bags, biodegradable bags or a clean trash container.
Leaflan hours
Leaflan Compost Center is at 6711 W. St. Lawrence, 364-1909
Free for City of Beloit residents (with ID)
In November, hours are 2:30-5 p.m. Wednesdays only
Closed Nov. 26, 27, 28.
Monday and Tuesday - 9 - noon
Wednesday - 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday and Friday - noon - 3 p.m.
Saturday - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
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