3 Easy Ways to Go Green

Leaf Collection

As temperatures drop and the length of daylight shortens, autumn brings changing green tree leaves to beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange. As the majestic scenery transforms throughout the season, the once colorful leaves begin to fall to the ground and become a chore for homeowners. The City offers a solution through the Leaf Collection Program.

Westerville’s Public Service Department manages the annual Leaf Collection program, which is a convenient way for residents to dispose of leaves at no additional cost. To participate, residents simply rake leaves to the tree lawn (between the sidewalk and the street), and the City removes the leaves. This year, the program begins on Monday, Oct. 7 and will run through mid-December on a three-week rotation, in a three-zone service model. A postcard with zone assignments will be mailed to residents in late September. The leaf collection schedule and other program details are available at www.westerville.org/leafcollection.

Residents may also collect leaves in paper or biodegradable lawn bags to be collected during regularly scheduled weekly collections.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Another way the City promotes sustainable practices for residents is through bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collections, which help residents safely dispose of flammable, toxic and reactive materials.

During the May 2024 HHW drive, the City collected the following materials:

⊲ 31,770 pounds of flammables, toxins and corrosive chemicals

⊲ 15,000 pounds of electronics

⊲ 2,600 pounds of used tires

The next HHW event will be Saturday, Oct. 5. at the City's Public Service Complex (350 Park Meadow Rd).

Visit www.westerville.org/hhw to view a list of accepted items.

Hefty Renew Program

Rumpke, the City’s trash pickup and recycling service provider, partners with the Hefty ReNew Program, to help residents to dispose of historically hard-to-recycle items.

To participate in the program, residents simply put approved items in an official Hefty ReNew orange bag, then place the bag in the recycling bin or cart during regularly scheduled recycling collection. Hefty ReNew bags can be purchased at grocery stores in the area.

Learn more at www.westerville.org/recycling.