As the warm days of summer give way to the cool temperatures of autumn, it’s time to think of ways to manage fall leaves. Ann Arborites can choose to mulch their leaves on-site, or set paper bags and compost carts of leaves at the curb for weekly pickup, or take advantage of free bulk leaf drop-off locations.

Please remember that the city no longer picks up loose leaves that are raked to the street. Details on fall leaf management options — and the opportunity to subscribe to e-mail leaf updates — are provided online at www.a2gov.org/leaves.

On-site leaf management options:

• Feed your lawn with leaves by using a mulching mower. For many people, it’s easier to run a mulching mower than to rake and bag leaves. And researchers have found mulched leaves provide a fall lawn feeding as well. Faculty at the Turf Research Institute at Michigan State University successfully tested using mowers to mulch over 18 inches of dry leaves into the turf with healthy results for the lawn year after year. Leaf mulching reports and videos from Scotts Lawn Care, MSU and others are posted at www.a2gov.org/leaves. Mulching leaves is a practical option for properties with lots of trees and is commonly used by many golf course operators.
• Use the city’s weekly compostable pickup service from April through mid-December (Dec. 16, 2011). Use bags or a compost cart for weekly compostable pickups. Place leaves in large paper bags or use an optional compost cart to set at the curb before 7 a.m. on the neighborhood weekly solid waste collection day. Compost carts may be purchased for a one-time charge of $50 each for any size (32-, 64-, or 96-gallon cart) from the city’s Customer Service & Payment Center, located in Larcom City Hall, 310 E. Huron, open weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 734-994-2807. Cart information is posted online at www.a2gov.org/carts.

• Compost at home. An easy outdoor composting recipe is provided at www.a2gov.org/compost.

Fall leaf drop-off options for City of Ann Arbor Properties:

• Free unlimited leaf drop off between Sept. 1 to Dec. 30, 2011 at the Ann Arbor Compost Center, 4150 Platt Road, open Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 734-794-6380 from city residents, Ann Arbor commercial properties, and/or their contracted landscapers/haulers. To deliver leaves, please follow site signs and drive across the city’s recycling plant (MRF) scale. Stop at the scalehouse window to show proof of Ann Arbor residency (drivers license and current water bill). Haulers follow a slightly different process with a free permit, described online at www.a2gov.org/leaves). The free drop-off is for Ann Arbor leaves, only. Other types of yard wastes — or leaves from non-Ann Arbor locations — are charged $15 per cubic yard.
• Free leaf and other compostables drop-off, year-round, of up to one cubic yard (or six yard waste bags) from Ann Arbor residents at Recycle Ann Arbor’s Drop-Off Station (DOS), 2950 E. Ellsworth, 734-971-7400, open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. To be eligible for the free yard waste drop-off and to waive the $3 DOS entry fee, Ann Arbor residents must show proof of residency with a driver’s license and a current water bill at the gatehouse window.

Sign up for free e-mail announcements on fall leaf collection updates from the City of Ann Arbor via GovDelivery at www.a2gov.org/leaves.

Nancy Stone is the Communications Liaison for Public Services at the City of Ann Arbor. She can be reached at nstone@a2gov.org. Visit www.a2gov.org for more information on local environmental topics including recycling, composting, water conservation, and choices for green living.

Your World provides local environmental information to our community. Contributing partners include: Washtenaw County’s Environmental Health Division; the nonprofit Recycle Ann Arbor; the City of Ann Arbor’s Public Services Area, Natural Area Preservation, Systems Planning programs for Energy, Environmental Coordination, Solid Waste, Transportation, and Water Resources.