About this time two years ago, my first fall in Pennsylvania, I couldn't figure out why on earth everyone was raking up their leaves and putting them out in the street. Then someone explained that the leaves are vacuumed up.
Apparently it's pretty commonplace, but it seemed weird to me. See, in Maryland, we just raked up our leaves and bagged them. I'm pretty sure they went out with yard waste or trash.
Apparently it's pretty commonplace, but it seemed weird to me. See, in Maryland, we just raked up our leaves and bagged them. I'm pretty sure they went out with yard waste or trash.
Now, I'm sure there's a reason for the leaf vacuuming. (A neighbor just pointed out that it does at least save the plastic bags we'd scoop them up in.) I just wonder if it works well. I live downtown and park on the street. So, when everyone sweeps their leaves out by the gutter, I end up parking on them. And I haven't actually seen the leaves vacuumed up yet, so it looks like they're just getting soggy and messy.
Here's what it says on the city's Web site:
Vacuuming of loose fall leaves typically begins mid-to-late October and continues into mid-December as weather permits. Piles of loose leaves only should be raked into the gutter area about 6 inches from the curb. Customers should not mix anything with leave piles (no brush, branches or other debris). Mixed piles will not be collected. For more information call the Highway Bureau at 849-2320.
I also have some questions about the "mixed piles." Whoever rakes up the leaves should be able to pull out any large branches that make their way in there, sure. But what about the trash that generally flies around city streets? And how does leaf vacuuming go with street sweeping? I suppose I'll just watch and see how things go.
Here's what it says on the city's Web site:
Vacuuming of loose fall leaves typically begins mid-to-late October and continues into mid-December as weather permits. Piles of loose leaves only should be raked into the gutter area about 6 inches from the curb. Customers should not mix anything with leave piles (no brush, branches or other debris). Mixed piles will not be collected. For more information call the Highway Bureau at 849-2320.
I also have some questions about the "mixed piles." Whoever rakes up the leaves should be able to pull out any large branches that make their way in there, sure. But what about the trash that generally flies around city streets? And how does leaf vacuuming go with street sweeping? I suppose I'll just watch and see how things go.
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