Windham Public Works finalizes leaf disposal schedule

By Ed Pierce

It’s been said that autumn is in a way like a second spring, where every falling leaf is like a blooming flower, but for homeowners struggling to keep their yards neat and tidy, falling leaves must be raked up and hauled away.

Windham's leaf and brush disposal site opens to the public
starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 and closes at 5 p.m. 
Sunday, Nov. 20 at the end of Enterprise Drive off Route 302
in North Windham behind the self-storage building.
FILE PHOTO

Autumn is a time for area homeowners to begin preparing their yards for the long winter months and getting rid of any leaves and brush that may have accumulated since the weather started turning cooler following the summer growing season.

Windham’s Department of Public Works will be providing a town site which will be accepting leaves and brush from residential fall clean-ups.

The town’s leaf and brush disposal area will be open to the public starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 and closes at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20. The disposal site can be found at the end of Enterprise Drive off Route 302 in North Windham behind the self-storage building.

According to Windham DPW Director Doug Fortier, this limited program is only for the disposal of leaves and brush.

“We ask that you separate the leaves from the brush and dispose in the appropriate areas as the posted signs indicate,” he said. “If you transport your leaves in bags, please remove them from the bags and  take the bags with you.”

For those disposing of brush at the Windham site, DPW asks that brush be no larger than 12 inches in

diameter.

Lawn experts say that raking leaves typically offer many benefits, both for personal health and for the appearance of your property.

For lawns and yards, the most important benefit of raking leaves is that it will help grass grow. A thick layer of fallen leaves can deprive grass of sunlight, which gets in the way of the growth of some cooler seasonal grass, such as Kentucky bluegrass, which is revitalized when the weather turns colder in the fall months.

Cooler-season lawn grasses are most active in moderately colder fall weather when they grow and strengthen root systems. It also helps remove damaging lawn thatch which is dead grass tissue above the soil and reduces accumulations of leaves which when moist could harbor diseases harmful to plants and trees.

When not picked up, piles of accumulated leaves can serve to block rain and moisture from reaching grass root systems and the leaves can be shelter for insects and snakes.

Falling leaves also contain a natural fertilizer called phosphorous which when it reaches streams, ponds and wetlands, it serves as an especially powerful chemical in the water. It reduces the amount of oxygen in the water needed to sustain fish and aquatic life, and is attributed to the growth of cyanobacteria that is toxic to people and animals.

Leaf raking provides homeowners with lots of exercise and plenty of fresh air and creates an overall tidy appearance for properties.

Homeowners are advised not to burn leaves as a method of disposal as the smoke it creates releases toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.

For further questions about Windham’s fall leaf and disposal site, available services or if in need of assistance, call the Windham Public Works office at 207-892-1909. <