Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 5, 1993                   TAG: 9311050136
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HAULING OF LEAVES UNDER WAY

Roanoke began collecting bagged leaves this week. And the city's loose-leaf collection crews will begin work Nov. 15.

City residents can put their bagged leaves by the street curb on the same day as their normal trash pickup, said Laura Wasko, who directs the city's recycling program.

Separate bags should be used for leaves and trash. Leaf bags that contain trash will be left behind for the regular trash crews, Wasko said.

Roanoke County also began picking up bagged leaves this week.

The city and county will share a site for bagged leaves to be recycled into mulch, which will be made available to residents for free.

On Nov. 15, Roanoke's loose-leaf crews will begin collecting leaves that have been raked to the curb. Crews will simultaneously work in all four quadrants of the city.

As in the past, city crews will use a zone system to divide the workload in all four quadrants.

Wasko said the city also encourages the backyard mulching andcomposting of leaves to produce gardening and potting soil.

To compost, the leaves should be mixed with grass clippings and vegetable scraps. The mix should be turned over periodically to promote the decomposition of the leaves. For more information on composting, call the Green Valley Council at 345-5523.

Wasko said that backyard composting benefits the community by reducing the cost of leaf collection and reduces the amount of waste entering the landfill.

The city has procedures and regulations for the collection of leaves:

Bagged leaves:

All bagged leaves must be brought to the street, not alley.

Place bagged leaves apart from normal refuse containers at the street; bags containing trash will be marked and left for regular refuse trucks.

Bagged collection takes place on the same day as regular garbage collection.

Loose leaves:

Red notices will be posted in neighborhoods one week in advance of crews.

Zone maps are available at libraries and fire stations.

Zone coverage information will be available each Thursday in the Neighborhoods section of the Roanoke Times & World-News and on the governmental access channel (channel 3 on Cox Cable).

Crews will make only one sweep through each zone.

Residents may request an additional loose-leaf pickup for a $25 fee.

In cases of extreme weather, expect delays in the collection schedule.