Residents and Businesses Urged to Assist in Clearing Leaves
25 November 2011
Heavy rains and high winds can cause leaves to gather on walkways and in residential streets, causing many hazards.
When wet leaves accumulate on sidewalks, they create a slipping hazard, which could cause injury. When leaves gather in residential streets, they cause traction issues which could cause slipping and longer braking times. In addition, the leaves often clog gutters and catch basins which can reduce or prevent water flow, resulting in localized street and property flooding.
City crews ask residents and businesses to help in clearing leaves from the roadside gutters and catch basins onto the boulevard. Multi-family or commercial complexes that use landscape contractors should remind their contractor it is a bylaw infraction to blow leaves onto roadways, and instead, have them collect the leaves for composting.
On heavy rainfall days, City crews have an increased presence, dealing with water flow issues. Crews attend to heavy leaf issues as discovered during regular patrols or as people report them. Having residents and businesses assist in clearing gutters and catch basins helps prevent the expense of dealing with problems that could arise.
Residents in single-family homes can put leaves in their Green Can or paper yard waste bags for curbside collection. Unlimited amounts of leaves and trimmings can be dropped off at Ecowaste (Triangle Road off the south foot of No. 6 Road) or up to one cubic yard of leaves and trimmings can be dropped off free of charge at the City’s Recycling Depot (5555 Lynas Lane). Proof of Richmond residency is required.
The public is urged to call the City regarding any blocked gutters and catch basins spotted in roadways. Call the City’s 24/7 Public Works dispatch at 604-270-8721. For safety reasons, please do not attempt to remove leaves from busy roads.
