Leaf & Yard Debris Clean Up

LEAVE THE LEAVES!

Autumn leaves are beautiful, and once they fall it can be tempting to get rid of them. Consider leaving your leaves in your yard. It's a great option that provides habitat and food for wildlife as well as improves soil health!

You can just let them lay where they fall, which provides habitat for insects and in turn food for birds during the winter months and is a great way to avoid yard work! Another option is to mow them into your yard. This will help them compost faster but still provide many of the same benefits of "leafing" them alone. 

Metro and the Xerces Society of Portland have some great information about the benefits of leaving your leaves as well.

If you go this route, please be sure to keep your sidewalk clear and passable. Leaves can build up and become slippery in the rain. 

What if I don't want to leave the leaves? 

That's fine too! Tualatin Municipal Code Section 6-1-210(4) states it is the responsibility of the property owner to dispose or recycle leaves and yard debris on private property, including the sidewalk and planter strip. You can put your leaves and yard debris in your yard debris container from Republic, bring it to a yard debris drop-off event, or bring it to a third-party disposal site. All three options are a great way to safely and responsibly get rid of those leaves. 

Whatever you do; NOT IN THE STREET, PLEASE

Placing yard debris or leaves into the city streets can cause problems, including clogged storm drains which cause flooding, leaves blowing into your neighbor's yard which can cause more work for them, and it can also make it difficult for the street sweeper to clean your street.

Properly disposing of leaves and yard debris keeps our streets, sidewalks, and planter strips clear of debris and helps prevent problems during the rainy, wet season.