Autumn storm in Hamburg: 20,000 tons of leaves disappear!

Autumn storm in Hamburg: 20,000 tons of leaves disappear!

Autumn has currently settled in Hamburg and brings with it a good portion of leaves. The city cleaning service has been on the move since the beginning of the week to remove leaves from over 3,000 kilometers of sidewalks and almost 8,000 kilometers of roadways. By just before Christmas, around 20,000 tons of leaves have to be collected and composted in an environmentally friendly way NDR reports.

Around 600 employees are available every day to ensure cleanliness, supported by almost 200 small trucks, 128 sweepers and over 300 leaf blowers. What is particularly positive is that all leaf blowers are now electrically operated. This environmentally friendly measure has significantly reduced the noise level - from 97 decibels to around 80 decibels. Nevertheless, the German Wildlife Foundation is calling for a further reduction in the use of leaf blowers, especially in parks.

Tips for leaf disposal

Like the city administration hamburg.de explains, in autumn large amounts of leaves accumulate not only on the streets but also in the gardens. City cleaning is a good partner for residents of all neighborhoods because it offers an easy way to dispose of leaves. Leaf bags are available for just 1 euro each, both at recycling centers and in many Budnikowsky branches. The bags intended only for leaf disposal must be placed on the side of the road at the agreed time, while other bags such as the blue, black or yellow ones will not be picked up.

There are strict regulations: Anyone who leaves leaves on the side of the road or places unauthorized bags is violating the public order. This can be punished with a warning of at least 30 euros and a fine of at least 60 euros. Among other things, leftover leaves can have serious consequences as they can block drains and lead to flooding, which is particularly critical in residential areas where the city cleaning service is not active.

Composting and protecting local fauna

Composting leaves in your own garden has many advantages, as is also emphasized on the city cleaning website ( Hamburg city cleaning ). Compost improves soil quality and provides winter protection for perennial beds. In addition, leaf hills can be a protected retreat for hedgehogs and other beneficial insects during the cold months.

It is important that chestnut leaves that are affected by pests such as the chestnut leaf miner should be disposed of in leaf bags. However, you can relax when it comes to leaves from linden and maple trees infected with the woolly scale insect - these leaves can be composted without any worries.

Overall, the autumn season in Hamburg is not only a challenge for city cleaning, but also offers numerous opportunities for citizens to actively help shape the environment. Let's work together to ensure that Hamburg remains colorful, clean and livable even in autumn!