By Adam Kramer
You wave at them to stop, but they dive into the enormous pile, pushing the leaves up into the air and back onto the lawn. There was nothing you could have done.
Jumping into leaf piles has been a childhood rite of passage, but the residents of the 270th Street Block Association in New Hyde Park with the help of the city Department of Sanitation were trying to end the fall tradition.
For the second year the Department of Sanitation is asking Queens residents to put their autumn leaves, brush and pumpkins into clear plastic bags for pickup by the agency. The leaves will then be turned into compost to be used in city parks, community gardens and backyards.
“We do it for waste reduction,” said John Pampalone, a Department of Sanitation spokesman. “It means that less material will have to be put into a landfill. Last year we collected 19,000 tons of leaves citywide.”
He said residents can pick up compost in 30-pound jugs during two compost give-back periods during the year. Compost improves soil quality, increases plant growth, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and watering, he said.
“It is a good program for the environment,” Pampalone said.
Michael Castellano, member of the 270th Block Association and vice president of the Lost Community Civic Association, said his block association started bagging leaves for composting last year – the first year of the program – because they were trying to cut down waste and improve recycling.
“It is not uncommon for our block to find a project and come together as a group. That is what we do.” Castellano said about the neighborhood leaf collection. “Everyone chips in to help out.”
He said his neighborhood always looks for ways to get rid of trash and composting, like recycling, is one way.
Leaves should be left out on Saturdays, Nov. 11, Nov. 25 and Dec. 9.
Call the Queens Botanical Gardens Compost Help line at 539-5296 to add your name and address to the give-back mailing list.
For more information call the Sanitation Action Center at (212) 219-8090 or visit their web site at www.nyc.gov/sanitation.
