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Officials ask residents to keep leaves out of street

November 10, 2000

With the peak season for autumn leaves drawing near, Lansing city officials want to make sure residents know how to dispose of their leaves.

It’s illegal to dump leaves in what is called the right of way, said Steve Chalker, the recycling coordinator and supervisor of the right of way enforcement officers for the city’s Public Service Department. The right of way is an area between the curb and the street and the sidewalk or the area between the edge of the street and six feet off the side of the road, he said.

“It’s the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain their property,” Chalker said. “Part of that is allowing for the care of the lawn - bagging their leaves and putting them out for proper removal.”

The department collects leaves and other yard waste from April until the end of November every year. Residents can place leaves in paper yard-waste bags or 30-gallon rigid containers. The department also picks up brush not more than four feet in length in bundles weighing not more than 30 pounds. Pickup is on regular trash day.

Chalker said leaves in the streets are a hazard.

“They can contribute to traffic hazards,” he said. “Children like to play in piles of leaves. Having them in the street creates a potentially safety hazard for the child.”

Chalker said the department spends about $300,000 each year sweeping leaves from the streets, about 20 percent of which are from residents illegally placing leaves in the streets. There’s a potential penalty of up to 90 days in jail or a fine of $500.

Lori Thomas, assistant recycling coordinator, said the department encourages residents to compost their leaves instead.

“It makes a lot of sense for people to just keep it in their back yard,” she said. “That compost they get is the best fertilizer they can buy or make.”

East Lansing also asks its residents to keep their leaves off the street.

“We ask residents not to rake leaves into the street because then they go into catch basins and if we have rain then the water can’t flow properly into the sewer system,” said Angela Mabin, public service administrator for the city.

Mabin said residents should rake leaves into the area between the curb and the sidewalk or within three feet of the curb if there are no sidewalks.

East Lansing workers will be collecting leaves Saturday in the central neighborhood area. Collection will occur on the east side of the city from the east city limit to Abbott Road on Monday and from Abbott Road to the west city limit Nov. 27.

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