Trenton introducing law that would require residents bag or containerize leaves or pay $2K fine

TRENTON » Bag the leaves, contain them or pay up.

City council is introducing a law this week that would require residents to place leaves and grass clippings in a trash can, bucket, bag or container to prevent the yard waste from entering the street or storm drain.

If a resident does not obey, they can be fined up to $2,000.

“I’m all for that,” South Ward Councilman George Muschal said Tuesday. “If they’re not in the container, they should be fined.”

Muschal, who is seeking reelection, said leaves ending up in storm drains has been a “big problem” for the city and one that he has reported.

“They clog up the drains,” the councilman said. “The sewer department has to come out and clean em’ out. They’ve got to use a special machine to get that out of there.”

In addition to containing the yard waste, city council will also introduce an ordinance this week that will prohibit the spilling, dumping and disposal of materials other than stormwater into drains.

Like with the yard waste law, violators can be fined up to $2,000.

There will be some exceptions to the rule, though. They include:

• Water line flushing and discharges

from potable water sources ter• Uncontaminated ground wa

• Air conditioning condensate

• Irrigation water

• Flows from waterways

• Residential car washing water and swimming pool discharges

• Sidewalk, driveway and street wash water

• Flows from firefighting activities

• Flows from rinsing off beach maintenance equipment and salt and de-icing materials

Both laws would be enforced by Trenton police.