City cleaning: What to bear in mind during the autumn leaf-fall season

In autumn, a large amount of fallen leaves accumulates throughout the city. Due to the weather, the leaf-fall season has started earlier than usual this year. As part of its statutory street-cleaning duties, the ESB ensures that roads, cycle paths and public spaces remain safe for traffic. To ensure this runs smoothly, there are a few things for the residents of Bocholt to bear in mind.

As leaves accumulate continuously and depend on weather conditions, it is not logistically possible to remove them completely and immediately - priority is therefore given first and foremost to safety-critical areas and busy roads.

On residential streets, residents are responsible for clearing fallen leaves, as well as for cleaning the pavement up to the centre of the road. Footpaths and cycle paths must also be cleared of fallen leaves. All regulations regarding cleaning obligations can be found in the Street Cleaning By-laws (bocholt.de/ortsrecht).

Leaves must not be swept into drains or onto the road

Leaves that end up in the gutter can be washed into the drains (drainage inlets) and block the drainage system there. During heavy rain, this can lead to flooding. Furthermore, the council's street-cleaning vehicles cannot collect large quantities of leaves in the gutters, which blocks the sweepers. For safety reasons, it is therefore forbidden to sweep leaves onto the road. A breach of this rule may be treated as a minor offence and result in a fine.

Collection points for leaf waste

The Bocholt Waste Management and Services Department provides residents with several options for disposing of leaf waste.

Green waste collection points

Every Saturday in November, the ESB sets up an additional green waste collection point in the "Unter den Eichen" car park. Between 8.30 am and 11.30 am, a vehicle is on hand there to collect this green waste.

Green waste (up to 2 cbm) can also be dropped off at the recycling centre all year round. The recycling centre is closed on Mondays; it is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm.

In addition, every Saturday from 8.00 am to 11.45 am, the Bocholt Waste Management Company, located at Bovenkerkesch 14 in the industrial estate, accepts up to 2 cubic metres of green waste.

Leaf bins

Leaf bins are provided at selected public locations for loose leaves to be disposed of. The bins are clearly visible on streets with a large number of trees and must only be filled with leaves from street trees; private garden waste or branches do not belong in them. The wire mesh bins are emptied regularly and must not be moved from their original position.

Seasonal leaf bin

The ESB provides a seasonal organic waste bin for the disposal of autumn leaves. These so-called leaf bins can be collected from the recycling centre between October and December. Alternatively, ESB will deliver the leaf bins for a delivery charge of 10 euros; these can be requested by telephone or email. A usage fee of 24 euros per leaf bin applies for the seasonal period up to the beginning of January. From January onwards, the leaf bins will no longer be emptied.

Telephone enquiries

Further enquiries regarding city cleaning (953 34 03) and the leaf bin (953 34 00) can be made by telephone on 02871. For other enquiries, the waste advice service can be contacted on 953 34 34.