Don’t rake leaves into the lake

October 07, 2024| Environment

By: Holly Odgers

As the leaves start to fall this autumn, remember to rake or blow your leaves away from the lake and not into it. Also, use caution when blowing them in the street as they can end up in storm drains which will eventually bring them back to the lake.

Raking or blowing leaves into the lake can introduce an abundance of decomposing leaves, raising nutrient levels. This, in turn, can trigger unwanted algae blooms and foster increased aquatic weed growth near your property. In addition, as algae and weeds proliferate and eventually die off, they cause bacteria that consume oxygen in the water, which can kill fish and other aquatic life.

To avoid these environmental issues, we recommend the following leaf management strategies:

• Collect: Rake your leaves away from the lake and collect them for proper pickup. Vegetative waste disposal information for each town is provided below. 
• Mulch: Utilize a mower to mulch the leaves directly into your lawn, providing valuable nutrients to your soil.
• Compost: Consider composting your leaves, turning them into nutrient-rich soil for your garden and landscaping needs. For more in-depth guidance on composting leaves, CLICK HERE.

It's important to note that each of the four municipalities surrounding Lake Hopatcong prohibits the disposal of leaves into the lake. The local ordinances can be accessed through the links provided below. 

Please share this information with neighbors and lawn maintenance services who may be unaware of the detrimental effects of depositing leaves into the lake. By working together, we can protect the health of Lake Hopatcong for generations to come.

Vegetative waste disposal by town

Please refer to your town's website for details on vegetative disposal or pickup. 

Hopatcong

Garbage & Recycling

The Borough of Hopatcong shall provide curbside collection of leaves during the month of APRIL and from OCTOBER 17th through DECEMBER 9th. Only LEAVES shall be accepted. Branches, twigs, grass clippings, rocks or other vegetative matter shall not be accepted. Leaves are required to be placed in biodegradable brown paper bags only. Leaves in proper bags as detailed above may be brought directly to the Hopatcong Recycling Center. Brush no wider than 4 in diameter will be accepted at the recycling center. Hopatcong Residents can only utilize the recycling center. No contractors allowed. Must show proof of residency by obtaining a window decal from Borough Hall.

Roxbury

Sanitation & Recycling

Grass and leaves are collected curbside only in brown paper yard bags or clearly marked containers. A limit of 50 bags of leaves will be collected weekly during regularly scheduled collection times (beginning the week of March 25, 2024, until the week of December 9, 2024). Compost material in plastic bags will not be collected.

Brush/branches must be tied in bundles & less than 3 inches in diameter. Yard waste is collected on the same day as trash/recycling. Grass, brush, and leaves cannot be mixed together. *Grass, leaves, and brush are also accepted at the Recycling Center. 

Mount Arlington

Utilities Department

Vegetative Waste pick-up is provided on a weekly basis, collected curbside every Wednesday beginning April through December. No plastic bags. Vegetative waste (leaves and grass only) may be in a trash can or container no larger than 32 gallons, or biodegradable paper lawn & leaf bags (required by the Morris County Transfer Station). Paper bags may be purchased at Home Depot, Shop-Rite, etc.  Twigs, branches and sticks must be bundled and tied up (no wider than 2 feet in diameter & no longer than 4 feet in length) or placed in a disposal can.

Jefferson

Garbage Collection

Vegetative Waste consists of grass, leaf, and brush.  Vegetative waste is picked up on Wednesdays beginning the first Wednesday in April and continues through the second Wednesday in December. Two bags or cans of grass, leaves, or brush or two bundles of twigs tied and not to exceed 40 lbs. or 36” inches in length may be placed curbside for pickup on Wednesday. The hauler will NOT pick up oversized landscaper barrels.

For six weeks in the spring (April 3 - May 15, 2024) and six weeks in the fall, (approximately mid-October until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving), residents may place an unlimited amount of vegetative waste to the curb for pick up.  After the six weeks, the contractor will pick up only two bags. 

Local ordinances

Each of the four municipalities around Lake Hopatcong prohibits disposing of leaves in the lake. The local ordinances are linked below. 

Hopatcong Borough – § 143-3 General regulations.

"Disposal of leaves and other vegetative material. No person shall deposit leaves or other vegetative materials on roads or within any lake, pond, stream, or stormwater drainage system."

Jefferson Township – § 313-8 Litter in fountains and water bodies.

"No person shall throw or deposit litter, including leaves and other vegetative or yard waste, in any fountain, pond, lake, stream, bay, or any other body of water."

Mt Arlington – § 88-2 Fertilizers, use of – Prohibited conduct.

"No person shall deposit leaves or other vegetative materials on roads or within or near any lake or stormwater drainage system."

Roxbury Township – § 3-7.10   Litter in Lakes and Fountains.

"No person shall throw, sweep, or deposit litter in any fountain, pond, lake, stream, or any other body of water in a park or elsewhere within the township."

 For more simple ways you can help protect Lake Hopatcong, view our Lake-Friendly Living Guide!