
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, its that time of year again, the panic has already begone to set in the annual leave pick up begins October 28th. This years leaf season begins October 28th and ends December 20th. Leaves must be placed curbside only on the dates listed in your area.
The key ingredients of the season are an overabundance of leaves, uncooperative weather, overworked and under-loved Ridgewood crews and of coarse enough summonses issued to make your head spin.
You may continue to bring leaves as well as brush to the Recycling Center. The hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Leaves can also be placed in paper biodegradable bags. Bags are available at the Recycling Center on a first-come, first-serve basis. When using bags please place them on the curb area and they will be collected separately.
As the weather is a key component to this operation if changes become necessary it will be posted on the Village of Ridgewood website.
I ain’t gonna do them. Only around good neighbors property and driveway and basement wells.
The Ridgewood crew is too erratic and they love to give out summonses. I never got one and don’t intend to.
Plus I don’t give a rat’s ass about the lawn. They say leaves are good for the environment anyway. So I will leave the leaves alone. And I have more trees than probably anyone in town. Or nearly the most, because my bad neighbor won’t cut down “weed trees” bordering my house.
Here come the whiners. Just read the G*d damn card and check the Village website to see when you should but your leaves OUT. They will be picked up sometime AFTER those dates. If you feel you must, snap a quick picture of your street leaf pile with your camera phone. That way if you get a ticket, you can show proof that you didnt’t put out leaves after pick up. You can send your photo to Susan who will refer it to the Village Manager to be taken care of, if possible.
Or better yet, do what I do, bring them to the recycling center. I’m 60 years old and have 1/2 acres with tons of trees and I manage it by myself.
I’ve been here 30+ years and I’ve NEVER had a problem with leaf pick-up. NEVER. And it never ceases to amaze me that we have a fairly educated adult population but they seemingly cannot read (at least not when it’s inconvenient for them.
I am 76 years old, the first poster, and I do it by myself too; I forgot to mention that I mulch some of the leaves; again good for the environment. I have lived here over 40 years. I bet I have more leaves than you do on your half acre. I do not have a gas leaf blower. Not good for the environment; noise and gas pollution. Last year the pick up was not on time. I don’t have a smart phone; and I don’t have a camera that dates photos. Also l would like to leave a lot of leaves on the lawn to decompose naturally. I do not put any weed killer on my lawn. I really do not care about a poisonous pretty lawn. I have drought resistant shrubs some grass and a lot of weeds. The weeds that I think are ugly I take out myself. Some of them are pretty.
At least the leaves will cover up the horrendous condition of the streets
I put out my leaves a day early last year and they gave me a summons. The day early was actually two weeks early since they never stick to the plan. I plan on leaving them alone with my dead lawn that I can barely water this year.
I wish wish wish Ridgewood would be honest about the leaves. I know of some towns in some states that charge for picking up leaves. You call the town and they come and pick up your leaves after you put them out on the curb/street. Nominal fee. They come right away and all is efficient and clean.
Ridgewood is erratic and inefficient and not dependable about leaf pick-up. What they are efficient about to the hilt is issuing a summons.
RIDGEWOOD CHARGES FOR LEAF PICK-UP by issuing summonses. They look for minor infringements. THEY SHOULD BE HONEST HONEST and just charge a nominal fee, for those who want leaves picked up.
( I never received a summons, so don’t go thinking I am complaining, my dear friends. In order to avoid a summons I put leaves out on ON THE LAST DAY they are supposed to pick them up according to the card they send out. NOT BEFORE).