The first and most important thing to remember about leaves is: Never, ever, block drainage ditches or curblines by raking your leaves into them. Why? Most residents of the County live within a watershed. Therefore, it is most likely that whatever enters the storm drain or ditch near your property runs directly into the closest tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. In autumn, large amounts of leaves become a source of water pollution. Once they reach the waterway, the leaves release nutrients that contribute to the accelerated growth of algae which can be detrimental to fish and other aquatic life. Why? Leaves can build up along curbs, gutters, and ditches and block stormwater so that flooding occurs. The resulting standing water may attract insects such as mosquitoes that carry diseases like West Nile Virus. Why? Should a major weather event occur, blocked curblines and ditches can lead to flooding of roadways and can also result in personal property damage including flooding of your home. Why? Protecting our environment, including our recreational waterways, as well as keeping our neighborhoods clean and safe, is a powerful incentive to most folks. If you keep leaves and debris out of your storm drains, gutters, and ditches, you can help keep our waterways clean and healthy and provide a better environment for native plants and animals. The result will be cleaner, safer, more enjoyable communities and recreational areas. Why? The County already has a recycling program in place for the curbside collection of yard waste, including leaves. It is therefore more efficient and cost effective to utilize this Bureau of Waste Management Services program than to divert Bureau of Highways resources from other priority work to clean ditches, curblines, and storm drains Place bagged leaves or containers of leaves at the curb by 6 a.m. on your regular recycling day. Yard waste, including leaves is collected year round.  | Mark each bag or container with an "X" on all sides. Masking tape works well. There is no limit to the number of bags or containers of leaves that we will collect at curbside. For the safety of our collection contractors, keep bags and containers under 40 pounds each. |
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