It’s leaf collection season in Roanoke Rapids.

That means public works crews will go down 90 miles of city streets four to five times until the end of February and, according to last year’s figures, collect 3,678.50 cubic yards of leaves.

That cubic yardage figure, Public Works Director Larry Chalker said Wednesday, equates to 1,839,250 pounds of leaves — about 919 tons.

The reasons behind the decades old practice in Roanoke Rapids are simple. “The city doesn’t allow burning leaves. It keeps the storm drainage system clean. Keeping the city free of leaves keeps them from being deposited in the river,” Chalker said.

There are also other benefits to the system after the leaves, which are currently stored at a site off First and Jefferson streets, have decomposed. “We’re required by the state to quarantine yard waste for a year because they could contain human and animal waste.”

Freshly deposited leaves contrast with the ones broken down.

The composting process, Chalker explained, kills the bacteria. “It makes a nice, useable product that we distribute to local farmers.”

The broken down leaves can also be used for landscaping and personal use by residents, who must schedule an appointment with public works to get the compost.

This year public works began trial leaf collection runs the first of November in anticipation of starting the process earlier, Chalker said.

There is a method to the system that may not be immediately recognizable. The public works crews collect the leaves in grids and work at first in straight lines doing each side of city streets and then come back to take care of corner lots later.

The city has done leaf collection this way for at least three to four decades, if not more, Chalker said. The city has four machines and puts three of them on the streets with one serving as a spare. “There are cities where you can burn leaves but there’s a lot of pollution in burning leaves.”

A load is readied for delivery to a farmer.

By allowing the leaves to break down, there is a reuse factor involved. “By composting, it gets good use. It makes excellent potting soil.”

Besides starting the season earlier next year, the city is also looking to move the storage area from the First and Jefferson site, Chalker said. “The state never really liked the site at First and Jefferson. They felt it is too close to the river. The composting leaves hold water and they don’t drain very well at all. We’re going to relocate it. We’ve been looking at a suitable location.”

At the composting site at First and Jefferson there is already a large hill of fresh leaves from this year’s collection efforts. Away from the fresh leaves is another pile that has been breaking down for a year and yet another small pile that has been turned fine and coal black through the decomposition process. “We get a very good composting because we pile it higher,” Chalker said. “We’ve got a contractor who comes to turn the leaves with an excavator.”

Steam rises from the pile.

Mayor Emery Doughtie said during this time of year leaf collection is one of the most valuable services the city provides and despite crews having to be pulled from the job from time to time for emergencies, it gets done. “It’s part of what you get for paying your taxes.”

For more information or to schedule a composting pick-up call the department at 252-533-2846.