With Fall and Winter fast approaching we can expect to see the familiar layer of leaves on the ground – it’s time to break out the rakes and bins! While cleaning up leaves keeps our living spaces clean and tidy, it is also a big part of our winter preparations. Every fall DPW staff spend hundreds of hours clearing leaves and debris from City streets, gutters and storm drains before the winter rains. This is an important part of keeping our streets and storm drain network ready for the heavy rains we can experience in Mill Valley. But it’s not only City streets and drains that need to be cleared - homes and yards actually have a much greater number of trees than our streets, so the responsibility of keeping leaves out of gutters and drains belongs to everyone.
Here are 5 important tips to remember:
- Make use of the MV Refuse green yard waste bin: a surprising amount of leaves can be packed in, but be careful not to overfill, causing leaves to fall out.
- Compost bins are another good place for leaves – but are often too small to manage the amounts of leaves we have.
- Rake early, rake often: instead of letting the leaves pile up, stay on top of the task to prevent being overwhelmed, or of overfilling your green bin.
- Remove drain covers: a surprising amount of material finds its way into the drain before the first rains arrive.
- Don’t blow/rake the debris into another property or the street.
The satisfaction that comes from rediscovering your driveway or landscape from under that layer of leaves is one thing – but the importance of keeping them out of gutters and drains can’t be overlooked.
Gas Powered Leaf Blowers are Prohibited
Please also remember that since 1993, the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers has been prohibited in Mill Valley in an effort to minimize air and noise pollution. You may use electric leaf blowers, electric leaf vacuums, rake, or sweep leaves. Learn more.
For any questions or comments, please contact:
Department of Public Works
(415) 384-4800
publicworks@cityofmillvalley.org