Leaf vacuuming begins November 6, 2006

Leaf vacuuming is done by the Highway Maintenance Section, one of our sister divisions/sections within the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation.

The Vacuum Leaf Collection Program for 2006 will begin on Monday, November 6, 2006. The Highway Maintenance website will be updated to help you track crews' progress.

Vacuum Leaf Collection Program details and weekly updates

How should you prepare your leaves for vacuum pickup?

Some tips from Highway Maintenance:

• Leaves should be placed in piles or containers on the grass or behind the curb. Placing leaves in streets or alleys can disrupt traffic and surface drainage, hamper snow removal operations or pose a fire hazard to automobiles parked over them.
• Collections are restricted to leaves only. Sticks, branches or coarse garden debris should be placed in containers or tied in bundles not more than four feet long and placed where household trash is regularly picked up.

What if you miss your vacuum collections, or if vacuuming is not available in your neighborhood?

The Division of Solid Waste Services continues to provide year-round collection of leaves, grass, and brush each week on your recycling day. See details on our website: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/yardtrim

Join us at a Neighborhood Chat - Oct. 30 or Nov. 2

• Learn the latest about recycling collection
• Find out how to request collection services
• Give back to your neighborhood

Attend one of our Neighborhood Chats to meet the Division of Solid Waste Services’ Community Outreach Program Specialists, and to join forces with like-minded County residents.

Chat dates:

• Monday, Oct. 30, 2006, 7:30 p.m., Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda
• Thursday, November 2, 2006, 7:30 p.m., Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Ave, Wheaton

Reserve your seat today:
Contact us at 301-840-2856 or jim.fustero@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off: Hours extended at Transfer Station

The Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off at the Shady Grove Transfer Station is now open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.!

Need paint for a project? Remember that this Drop-off offers you free paint!

Can you recycle Altoids tins?

From our email "bag":

I have recently been buying Altoids. I especially like licorice flavor ones. I was accumulating a few cans, thinking that they would make a nice storage container. After stacking up about 5 of them, I decided to toss them in the recycling bin. If they are not recyclable please give me some thoughts on how to dispose of them.

Thanks for your question! I did some sleuthing for you, and... you've been doing the right thing! Enjoy the mints and candies, and when the tin is empty, simply drop it into your blue bin for recycling.

Leaf vacuuming begins November 6, 2006

Many residents think the Division of Solid Waste Services provides their leaf vacuuming in the Fall. Sorry, we don't! The leaf vacuuming is done by our good colleagues in the Highway Maintenance Section.

Highway Maintenance announced that this year's vacuuming begins on Monday, November 6, 2006. The collections are anticipated to run through mid-December. (The end-date is always weather-permitting!)

What's the difference between the Highway Maintenance and the Division of Solid Waste Services leaf collections?

• In the Highway Maintenance program, leaves must be raked to the curb in time for the posted collection date - no bagging required. Leaf vacuuming details - including a service area map and collection status reports.
• The Division of Solid Waste Services' yard trim collection includes leaves, grass, and brush. Pickups are made weekly on your recycling day, all year round. Leaves set out for this collection must be in large paper bags or in reusable, labeled containers (like trash cans). Curbside yard trim collection details
  

October 9, Columbus Day - normal schedule

Monday, October 9, 2006, Columbus Day is a regular recycling and trash collection day. All County-provided recycling and trash collections will be made on their normal schedule.

If you have any questions or concerns about your County-provided collection, please contact our Customer Service staff online or call 240-777-6410.

Note: if you (or your community) have a private contract for your trash collection, these schedule announcements may not apply to your trash service -- check with your hauler or community manager.