City offers fall leaf collection

Every autumn, after trees have shed their leaves, residents are faced with a dilemma of what to do with the resulting yard waste.

There are several options for those residents, and composting, collection and incineration are a few of the most common ones.

Dan Goldblatt, public information officer for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, said burning yard waste has health and environmental effects.

“When yard waste is burned, particulate matter, also known as PM, is released,” Goldblatt said. “PM is a complex mixture of particles, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke and liquid droplets that are found in the air in sizes small enough to be inhaled.”

Goldblatt said IDEM is concerned with two kinds of PM — PM10 and PM2.5.

“Coarse particles that are larger than 2.5 micrometers and smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter are referred to as PM10,” Goldblatt said. “Fine particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter are referred to as PM2.5.”

PM2.5, in particular, is linked to health problems.

“PM2.5 is so small that the particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs and cause health problems in sensitive groups such as the very young, the elderly and those with heart or lung disease,” Goldblatt said. “Breathing particulate matter has been linked to a number of significant health problems including aggravated asthma, difficulty breathing, decreased lung function and chronic bronchitis.”

Goldblatt also said PM 2.5 is a component of smog, causing reduced visibility. Because of these risks, yard waste incineration is highly regulated by the state.

The City of Bloomington offers yard waste collection all year.  Yard waste paper bags or bundles require a green yard waste sticker, and bags and containers must be no larger than 35 gallons nor weigh more than 40 pounds, according to the City of Bloomington website.

In the fall, the city offers free curbside leaf collection on a bi-weekly basis until Dec. 20. Unlike other waste collected, leaves in biodegradable or paper bags do not require a green tag to be collected.

For environmentally conscious residents, composting is the best option for leaves.

“Yard waste is one of the easiest types of material to compost at home,” Goldblatt said.

Follow reporter Brianna Meyer on Twitter @brimmeyer.