With breezy, rainy weather in the forecast, Vancouver residents are encouraged to act now to prevent localized street flooding by gathering up autumn leaves and disposing of them for free.
In Vancouver, leaves should never be raked or blown into the streets. Street sweepers sweep, not vacuum, so they’re no match for piles of leaves. Leaves in the street clog stormwater catch basin drains. When rain can’t flow down the drain, it backs up onto the street.
To help prevent such problems, the City of Vancouver and Clark County offer a free program that allows residents to use a coupon to dispose of leaves only, at no charge, at two different sites: H & H Wood Recyclers, 8401 NE 117th Ave., and West Van Materials Recovery Center, 6601 NW Old Lower River Road. Leaf coupons, which list disposal hours, are available at many City of Vancouver offices, in the latest residential Curbside Recycling Newsletter, and on the City of Vancouver’s Solid Waste Services website at www.cityofvancouver.us/solidwaste.
Other options include containing and managing leaves for creating mulch or compost or subscribing to the optional yard debris collection service available from Waste Connections Inc. by calling 360-892-5370.
