As autumn leaves begin to fall, Sand Springs residents are reminded that leaves should not be raked, swept or blown into city streets.
With an abundance of trees in the city, residents often wonder how best to dispose of them. Fallen leaves should never be placed in the street because they often clog storm drains during rain events – another common fall occurrence.
Leaves have many environmentally-friendly uses. Mulching and composting leaves provide an excellent source of ground cover for plants and other vegetation during the upcoming winter months. The key to mulching and composting is to chop the leaves up so they will decompose – returning nutrients to the soil and helping protect vegetation from freeze damage.
Residents can chop leaves by running a lawnmower over them using a bagging attachment. If a bagging attachment is not available, start mowing from the outside edges of the yard inward and mow the leaves into a shredded pile. For yards with a great volume of leaves, leaf shredders are available at hardware and equipment rental stores.
For those using traditional disposal options, leaves can be put into sturdy trash bags, tied firmly and placed at the street curb for regular collection by the City’s Solid Waste Division. Crews will collect up to eight bags of leaves weekly, along with dumping the resident’s polykart.
Extra pickup arrangements can be made in advance for additional bags by calling 918-246-2588. Additional charges apply.