When the leaves start to change color, it's a sure sign of fall. But once these leaves accumulate, they can cause flooding on roads during the winter rainy season.
The San Luis Obispo County Stormwater Program has launched a new outreach effort to educate residents about proper yard waste disposal to protect local waterways and ensure safer streets.
In response to rising costs and the switch to quarterly street sweeping, the county is asking residents to help clear streets by collecting leaves and yard waste in their green waste bins instead of blowing them onto the street.
“Our goal right now is to raise awareness that our street sweepers are not designed to handle large amounts of leaves,” said Ann Fletcher, San Luis Obispo County Stormwater Program Coordinator. “Our street sweepers are out and about trying to pick up street debris. They try to collect pollutants. And when they come across these large piles of leaves, they can actually clog up the sweepers, and that reduces the amount of streets we can use to sweep.”
Fletcher said leaf piles can also clog storm drains, leading to water buildup and possible road damage.
“As soon as it starts raining, requests for work orders for clogged drains, for culverts that might have water backing up, and people see these puddles building up. And deep down, so are we.” Ask for the public’s help here. If you see these leaves getting stuck in a storm drain outside your home, you can take action and throw these leaves in the green bin,” Fletcher said.
Residents are encouraged to do their part by:
- Blowing or raking leaves around the garden to ensure they don't spill onto the street
- Dispose of leaves and other garden waste in the green waste bin
- Make sure storm drains are clear of leaves and debris so that rainwater can flow freely into storm drains
- Remove any blockages or piles of leaves that may impede the path of street sweepers
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