Nothing indicates a lack of understanding about solid waste more than the sight of large black plastic bags filled with leaves sitting at the curb ready to be picked up and taken to the landfill. Leaves are a valuable resource — a part of nature's own recycling plan. Plastic bags can take hundreds of years to break down in the environment, and leaves can’t decay without access to oxygen and microbes.

Thousands of towns are now recycling leaves for compost, or at least requiring their collection in biodegradable plastic or paper bags. Many are also providing residents with information about backyard composting, further reducing program costs. If your town is still permitting the disposal of leaves in plastic bags, today would be a good day to change the policy.

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From mid-October through mid-February, the Town of Chapel Hill, NC collects and hauls away all leaves raked to the curb in piles.  The Town also delivers leaves to those requesting them for compost or mulch for gardening. 

The Town of Bethel, CT makes it clear they want no plastic bags (or even bags sealed with duct tape) for their leaf collection program.