County Leaf Collection Completed

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

eb/leafvacuum.pr 99-447

Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
John Thompson, 240-777-7623 (ROAD)

For Immediate Release (December 23, 1999)

COUNTY LEAF COLLECTION COMPLETED

Residents in the county's vacuum leaf collection area are asked to no longer rake leaves to the curb, as collection efforts have been completed for the year. The vacuum leaf collection program operates in the lower third of the county, bounded by the City of Rockville, Northwest Branch Park, the Prince George's County boundary, the District of Columbia boundary, and Interstate-270.

Residents in single-family homes with curbside yard trimmings collection service can still recycle their leaves by placing them at the curb on recycling day. Leaves must be set out in large brown paper bags or reusable trash cans labeled "Recycle."

"I'd like to thank everyone who participated in the leaf vacuuming program for their cooperation," said John Thompson, division chief of Highway Services, with the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation. "I'm proud to say the staff did a great job, completing this enormous task within schedule and within budget."

Staff complete two collections each season, picking up leaves from 85,000 households, private roads and right-of-ways. This year, residents set out a record 143,000 cubic yards of leaves, exceeding the amount collected in any of the past six years. Typically, about 138,000 to 140,000 cubic yards of leaves are collected.

Vacuum leaf services began on November 1 and were completed on December 18, just seven weeks. This year, staff worked six days a week for ten hours a day, using 350 people and 110 to 120 trucks, to complete the collections.

If residents would like to comment on their leaf vacuuming service, or if they would like more information, they can call 240-777-7623 (ROAD). For more information on setting out leaves for recycling pick-up, call 240-777-6410.

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