The City of Cambridge is encouraging residents and businesses to bag, mulch or compost leaves from their yards and along the front of their property this season to prevent them from going into storm drains. Leaves and yard waste can block storm drains, preventing stormwater from draining properly and causing flooding on the street. Those leaves that make their way down storm drains can have a detrimental impact on waterways. Large amounts of leaves in the water can lead to an excess of decaying organic material, resulting in elevated levels of nutrients in the water. Excess nutrients can lead to toxic algae blooms, deplete available oxygen for fish and encourage growth of invasive plants that can choke the waterway.
“We are all stewards of the river," said Owen O’Riordan, Cambridge Department of Public Works Commissioner. "It’s important that we do our part in keeping pollutants from going down the storm drains and flowing out to the river. Clearing leaves is just one of many things we can do; collectively, we can make a big impact on cleaning up our waterways.”
Citywide curbside yard waste collection will continue through December 14th. Place yard waste in barrels marked with City-issued stickers facing the street, or in lawn refuse bags and set out by 7AM on the same day as trash, recycling and compost pick up.
For more information on how you can do your part for cleaner water and a healthier environment, visit
https://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/stormwatermanagement.