Big Sweep for Leaves Under Way 12/01/06

Town crews are asking for patience as they complete a town-wide sweep for leaves before returning to neighborhoods to collect what has been raked since the first pass.

A sweep through Holly Springs may take three weeks. So if a Public Works crew goes through your neighborhood before you've had a chance to rake your leaves, just leave them at the curb. Crews will get them the next pass through town.

"We cover everybody, then start again," Public Works Director Luncie McNeil said. "That way it's fair and equitable for every resident in town."

The Town has added a third leaf collection truck this season as it tries to keep up with the growing number of homes and leaf piles. With nearly 750 solid waste customers more than last year, keeping pace is a growing challenge.

As in Fuquay-Varina and Apex, maintaining a weekly yard waste schedule becomes impractical during peak leaf season. Larger municipalities such as Raleigh and Cary collect leaves town-wide according to a publicized schedule. During November and December, Cary homeowners who want to schedule an appointment for leaf collection pay $100.

To help collection here run as smoothly as possible, please rake leaves to the edge of the yard but keep them behind the curb. Keep leaf piles 15-20 feet away from storm drains so leaves don't wash into drains and clog them. Please keep them off water meter boxes, away from mailboxes, and at least 15 feet from storm drains so they don't get clogged.

As leaf collection begins to wind down, Christmas tree collection gets under way. The first town-wide sweep will begin Dec. 27.

"We'll start in two locations," McNeil said, "and we'll meet somewhere in the middle."

As with leaves, crews will complete the first sweep through town before returning to a neighborhood.

"It's not efficient to go back before we do one complete cycle," McNeil said.

Crews will run discarded trees through a chipper on the spot. The Town cannot collect trees that have any ornaments, nails, lights or other objects left on them. Those could damage the chipper and injure a crew member.

Since crews vacuum leaves and chip Christmas trees, trees should not be left on leaf piles.

For more information about solid waste collection, call (919) 552-5920.

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Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us