Elizabeth Township to double leaf pick-up crews

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Fall cleanup is underway in Elizabeth Township, with crews picking up leaves and brush at curbside.

Paul Twale, the township public works foreman, said he will double the crews making the circuit of the township starting next week. Twale said leaf pick-up wasn’t set to begin until Monday, but the township began early this year because the trees started dropping their leaves early. He’s had a crew out every day gathering approximately 40 cubic yards of leaves and brush.

“They take about four trips a day to recycle,” Twale said. “This is our third week for leaves.”

With two crews out, that amount is expected to double by Dec. 7, when the program comes to an end. Twale said residents shouldn’t bag the leaves.

“They are to be raked to the curb as close to the road as they can get them, unbagged,” Twale said.

The crews use a large vacuum machine to gather the leaves.

“I’ve picked them up in snow, in 90-degree weather, in rain,” Twale said. “This is our 27th year of picking up leaves. It was mandated by the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) as part of recycling, and first-class townships were the first that were required to do it.” 

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