Politics & Government
October Snowstorm Delays Curbside Leaf Collection
Winter Storm Albert was "hardest storm ever" for Salisbury, township officials said.
The was so bad in Salisbury Township that its effects are still being felt, offiicials said. Curbside leaf pickup will be delayed and the township is running out of space at the Devonshire and Franko yard waste drop-off sites because of the huge volume of trees and branches that fell during the storm.
About a foot of heavy, wet snow fell in parts of Salisbury Township, one of the hardest hit areas in Lehigh County, causing thousands of trees and branches still laden with leaves to split and fall.
Officially named Winter Storm Albert, it was “an incredibly awesome, impactful storm,” Public Works Director John Andreas told the board of commissioners at their Nov. 10 meeting. He added, it was “probably the hardest storm ever in terms of damage and duration.”
Find out what's happening in Salisburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Additional staff and hours of service have been extended at the yard waste drop-off sites to accommodate the extra influx.
“Nobody expected it would be that bad,” said Salisbury Police Chief Allen W. Stiles. “So many trees came down at one point we had no idea how to direct motorists to get to Bethlehem or Allentown. All roads were closed.”
Find out what's happening in Salisburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
on utility lines caused power outages of four to seven days for residents, and the township is still cleaning up from the storm, officials said.
Since Nov. 7, “This will be ongoing,” Andreas said. “It’s going to be a long, laborious task.”
“Our intent is to chip it and make mulch out of it, and to make it available to our residents,” said Andreas.
Larger, heavier wood is often easier to give away, Andreas said, because it makes good firewood. "At this point we are focusing on the branches that are left behind,” he said.
Although leaf collection was scheduled to begin Oct. 24, “leaf collection is not the priority right now,” Andreas said. Until leaves are picked up, they should be placed along the side of the street, not in the street where vehicles drive. Leaves may be dropped off at the Franko Farm site only.
“I expect a lot of residents will expect their leaves to be picked up, and we will try to do that before the next wind storm,” said Township Manager Randy Soriano.
Jane Benning, a member of the township’s Environmental Advisory Council, suggested that residents . Leaves can be shredded by running over them with a lawn mower.