Kick 'em to the Curb

Westport Public Works Director Stephen Edwards has announced the town will begin its annual curbside leaf collection program this week and last through Dec. 6. 

“Any leaves placed on the curbside during this period in biodegradable paper bags will be collected by the Westport Public Works Department,” Edwards said in a news release on the town's Web site.  “Leaves placed in plastic bags will not be picked up.  The compost process can not handle plastic bags.”

Residents living on private roadways must place their bagged leaves at an intersecting town roadway.

Alternatives to leaf collection include backyard composting. For more information on that residents can call the conservation department at 203-341-1170 or Earthplace at 203-227-7253.

Residents can also dispose of leaves at the yard waste site, located at 180 Bayberry Lane, as long as their cars display a valid WP sticker.  If the leaves are transported in plastic bags, the resident must empty the bags before disposal.  

The yard waste site is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday.  From Nov. 7 through Dec. 5 Saturday hours at the yard waste site will be extended till 3 p.m. 

Residents whose vans, pickups or tag-along trailers display a valid sticker may deliver up to six 30- gallon bags or containers full of leaves without a fee.  A van, pickup or tag-along trailer exceeding the six bag limit will be charged $30 per load, according to the town's Web site.   

Any vehicle or trailer larger than a conventional pickup with a 4-foot-by-8-foot bed will be charged $80 per ton.  Any vehicles with a nine-foot body or vehicles changed to significantly enlarge their factory design size - $80 per ton estimated at two ton without weigh slip ($160). 

Dump tickets to cover the cost of the disposal fee must be purchased at Town Hall, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or by mail to: Department of Public Works, 110 Myrtle Ave., Westport, CT 06880.