Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trustee proposes pilot to require bagged leaf collection; board debates logistics
Summary
Trustee Silver proposed moving from curbside piles to bagged leaf collection (currently used in one neighborhood) to reduce street obstruction and clogged drains; trustees discussed neighborhood differences, pickup frequency, equipment/staffing needs, and an education campaign and suggested a pilot program.
Trustee Silver proposed changing the village's leaf‑collection practice from curbside piles to bagged or containerized collection in order to reduce street obstructions, parking loss and storm‑drain clogging. “I think… the piles in some neighborhoods… get so large that they really become an impediment in the street,” she said, arguing bagging could make pickup cleaner and reduce debris damage to vehicles.
Board members noted differences between neighborhoods: some areas (for example, Washingtonville) are already bagging successfully while other neighborhoods with larger lots or fewer trees rely on consolidated piles. Trustees discussed operational implications — whether bagging would require more frequent pickups, different vehicles or overtime, and whether landscapers and residents could be coordinated to reduce early re‑piling between pickups.
Staff said other Westchester communities use bagging; the Committee for the Environment supports bagging and could assist with public education. Trustees suggested piloting bag collection in selected neighborhoods to test pickup frequency, staffing and equipment needs before considering a village‑wide change.
No formal decision was made; staff will contact the highway/collection supervisor to assess capacity for increased pickup frequency and return recommendations, including the possibility of a pilot program and required communications to landscapers and residents.
