ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) – The City of Elmira has announced its fall leaf pickup dates.

Bulk pickup starts Monday, November 15, and ends December 23. Residents can rake leaves to the area between the curb and sidewalk for pickup by city crews. For areas without sidewalks, residents are asked to rake the leaves as close to the curb or street as possible. In areas without lawns between the curb and sidewalk, rake the leaves to the curb line, but not in the street. In all cases, residents should leave room for “safe and convenient pedestrian travel”.

Leaves must not be raked into the street. Leaves piled in the street can create safety hazards for children and drivers and can also impede drainage and block stormwater flows.

The city will be divided into six sections for leaf pickup; there will be two to three city crews made up of a leaf pusher and a loader to pick up the leaves, and two to three dump trucks per crew. Leaf pickup will happen along every street at least twice.

There will be no bulk pic-up of leaves or yard debris outside of November 15 – December 23. For service outside those dates, the city asks you use the composting or “Dial-A-Truck” Programs.

The City of Elmira Compose Center is located at 840 Linden Place off Sullivan Street. It is open to any city resident Mondays through Fridays from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The site is expected to close for the season after leaf pickup concludes.

There is also a Chemung County compost facility on Blostein Boulevard off Chemung Street. The Hours are:

Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00 – 5:00
Wednesday and Friday: 9:00 – 3:00
Saturday: 8:00 – 1:00.

The site is expected to close for the season roughly November 25 depending on the weather. Commercial contractors’ leaves can’t be dropped at the facility because space is limited.

Residents can also pick up prepared mulch for free.

City officials also announced bagged leaf pickup has been discontinued. It is not a violation for most landfills in the state to accept yard waste, including bagged leaves; The Chemung County Landfill is subject to New York State DEC fines and penalties for accepting this material. Additionally, a waste hauler accepting bagged leaves may be fined by the landfill or have their contract suspended.

For other resources about trees and composting, click the links below:

1.            Street Trees: http://www.cityofelmira.net/public-works/street-division

2.            Dial-A-Truck: http://www.cityofelmira.net/dial-a-truck

3.            Residential Composting:  

4.            General Composting:  http://chemung.cce.cornell.edu/gardening/compost-resources

Additionally, from time to time, NYSEG may trim trees around the power lines. The City says it is NYSEG’s responsibility to clean up and remove all trimmed branches.

City officials also outlined the benefits of mulching:

1.            Shredding leaves with a mulching mower can save time and money. It is also faster and easier than raking them.

2.            Micro-organisms that live in the soil break down the decomposing leaves and cover the soil between the grass where weeds can germinate. MSU studies found a decrease in dandelions and crabgrass after mulching fall leaves for just three years.

3.            This can also reduce the amount of money spent on weed control products. Mulched leaves keep soil warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer and will provide nutrients to the grassroots reducing the amount and expense of fertilizer in the Spring.

4.            Mulched leaves will biodegrade and disappear from the lawn by Spring.