Last year I got raked up in the great leaf collection controversy and eagerly sprouted my opinion about why requiring residents to bag their leaves was a bad idea. But when I could no longer ignore the change, I gave it a try — and to my surprise, it was no big deal. In fact, it was as easy as 1-2-3.
Step 1: Rake, blow, or carry the leaves to the street, just like before.
Step 2: Run the lawn mower over the pile a bunch of times until it’s about a tenth its original size — most of it now mulch.
Step 3: Use a snow shovel to scoop the leaves into yard waste bags or a rigid container.
Because I used a rolling yard waste bin, my total investment last year was two bags. That’s it.
I hate to admit it, but I was wrong. (Please don’t tell my wife.)
Kurt Roskopf
Oak Park