By Joe Scavuzzo, Director, Department of Public Works
This article marks the beginning of leaf collection operations at Public Works.
Our crews have begun the process of driving each street of town in search of piles of leaves. It is highly encouraged that you bag your leaves whenever possible. However, there are parts of town, where the density of large, mature trees makes bagging your leaves prohibitive, requiring the Department of Public Work’s collection efforts. The main reason we encourage residents to bag leaves is to protect our storm water inlets along our streets from becoming clogged, preventing the flow of water from the street into the storm water system. In addition to this, any fall breezes that come through won’t blow that leaf pile back onto your lawn or all over the street! The bagged leaves that are collected by South Jersey Sanitation on Wednesdays are taken to Smith Orchards for recycling. Each year, the Township compiles a tonnage report based off of the yard debris collected, similar to the white goods collected and our annual recycling collection; and receives credit towards our annual recycling grant.
You may not be aware of what happens to those mountains of leaves that the Department of Public Works collects. Our department operates and maintains one of the best functioning and best kept leaf composting sites in New Jersey. Each year, inspectors from the state and county comment on how great the site looks in comparison to others they visit. After the compost matures, it is delivered to the brick bin at the Municipal Pool parking lot on River Road, where residents can supplement their gardens at home with this nutritious soil. Although it is closed to the public, the compost facility is located on Park Ave., resting beside the Pennsauken Creek, before you cross into Maple Shade. Currently, you will view an open piece of land. Within the next month, you will begin to see the collected leaves being formed into rows, called “windrows.” Once our facility is nearing its 10,000 cubic yard capacity, you’ll notice the windrows are pointed in a specific direction. The windrow field is sloped downward to allow water to filter in a grass area and collect at a basin. This prevents “ponding” or stagnant water, which could breed mosquitos and an unpleasant odor.
Between the normal Wednesday yard debris collection of bagged leaves and the Department of Public Work’s curbside collection, Pennsauken remains compliant with our compost site’s permitted capacity, while clearing out 2021’s fallen leaves. A few of you may have your own composting methods at home for the reuse of food scraps and yard debris. Although our facility only handles leaves, the process is very much the same, just on a much larger scale.
Leaf collection season runs until Dec. 31, so don’t worry if you push this chore into December. Typically, the bulk of our annual efforts are completed by mid-December, with “spot collections” occurring the last two to three weeks of the year. Spot collections are only performed during this time.
Park Avenue Road Improvements
Camden County is continuing their restoration of roads in Pennsauken and the surrounding towns. Work along Park Ave., between Union Ave. and Cove Rd. will continue into December, weather permitting. Per the most recent progress meeting, the stretch between Cove Rd. and the railroad crossing should be complete with final paving by the time this article hits your mailbox. On the stretch of Park between Union Ave. and the railroad crossing, there is significant storm water management infrastructure that is being installed on the west side of the roadway to alleviate the flooding in the area. This will get the rainwater down into the system instead of needing to run down the curb all the way to the creek next to the railroad crossing. You can already see the new concrete gutter and curb, along with new, ADA handicap ramps that are being installed, along with some driveway apron grading. Due to the time of year, the project will likely shut down during the winter and pick back up in the spring, mainly for paving. Any and all questions regarding the project should be directed to the Camden County Public Works Department at (856) 566-2980 or highway@camdencounty.com.
All of us at Public Works wish you a very enjoyable Thanksgiving! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach us at (856) 663-0178, by email at publicworks@twp.pennsauken.nj.us or find us at “Pennsauken Twp. Dept. of Public Works” on Facebook.
