Solebury Receives State Grant for Leaf Collection Equipment

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has awarded a $213,367 grant to Solebury, to pay for new equipment to improve the Township's leaf collection program. The grant is part of the state's ongoing funding for recycling and waste reduction programs.

The Township Public Works Department currently has one truck dedicated to leaf collection. The current equipment has seen seven years of service, while the volume of leaves that need to be removed from roadways and culverts has steadily increased.

The state grant will allow Solebury to purchase a leaf vacuum, which will collect more leaves with greater speed and efficiency, and a quick loader that will allow Public Works to use a wider range of its equipment in the collection program. The grant will fund 100 percent of the purchase of the vacuum and loader, as well as defray 60 percent of the cost of a multi-use truck already purchased by the Township.

Fallen leaves create roadway hazards and clog the inlets and drains. The Township clears leaves from the roads to keep drivers safe from slipping and skidding conditions, and to ensure that obstacles and pavement markings are visible. Leaf removal is also critical to Solebury's storm water management program, allowing rainfall and snow melt to flow freely into our waterways without ponding or flooding. The collected leaves are distributed to local farmers for mulch.

Solebury encourages residents to compost their leaves and yard clippings. You should site your compost pile in a dry, shady spot near a water source and away from the road, and feed it a mix of untreated green and brown yard trimmings. A well-maintained compost pile enriches the soil, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, gives a home to beneficial bacteria and lowers your carbon footprint. For more information on composting, the US Department of Environmental Protection has an informational website at www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home.