Mantua Township will offer spring leaf pickup to residents for one week only beginning Monday, April 17, because of a shortage of manpower or resources to extend it further into the season.
The service will end on Friday, April 21, according to Mayor Robert Zimmerman, who addressed guidelines for the leaf collections.
“We ask that residents place their leaves curbside, as we use our Leafer truck to remove (them),” he said. “We ask that residents not place the leaves in plastic bags; leaves won’t be picked up if in bags. We also ask that residents not mix sticks or branches or other debris with the leaves that are raked curbside.”
How to gather the leaves is up to residents: They can be collected with a leaf blower or raked into a pile. Sticks or branches among them could lead to clogs and potentially damage vacuum machines. Residents should also keep leaf piles at least a foot away from the curb to allow the free flow of water into nearby storm drains.
One leaf truck is expected to do the job, but a second will be made available if necessary. The project is being overseen by the superintendent of the public works department, Glenn DeMers.
Leaf pickup in both spring and fall has been one of Mantua’s biggest projects over the years. The most hard-hit areas, according to Deputy Mayor Pete Scirrotto, have been the Cold Springs development, a good portion of the Sewell section, Mantua proper, Washington Avenue, Adams Avenue, Breakneck Road and the Weatherby Hills development.
“Collecting leaves is an art form,” Scirrotto quipped.
The township has also announced public works will pick up green carts containing grass and leaves from Monday through Oct. 27. The leaf pickup roles also apply to the carts.
