Autumn leaf composting trial underway for Thanet

Autumn usually brings lots of fallen leaves. When wet, walking through fallen leaves could mean a slip or fall. To help keep residents safe, our Street Cleansing teams work hard to clear pavements in public spaces as quickly as possible.

The fallen leaves picked up by Thanet District Council’s Cleansing team are usually collected along with other litter. This means they cannot be composted.

In 2023, the council trialled using staff to conduct dedicated leaf picking patrols which resulted in nine tonnes of leaf fall being sent to anaerobic digestion, instead of it being disposed of as street litter.

This year the council will continue this practice. The new approach to dealing with this seasonal situation is one that connects to the key priority of keeping the district safe and clean. It is hoped that collecting fallen leaves across Thanet will yield at least the same volume in 2024.

In a bid to encourage further collection, the council is now trialling a community collection programme. The seasonal trial will involve volunteer residents in Broadstairs receiving a dedicated wheeled bin that they can fill with leaves. A small number of volunteer participants will be invited to take part in dedicated leaf picks. When the bins are full, they will be emptied by Waste & Recycling teams. These bins will be returned to the council at the end of leaf fall season.

Cllr Rick Everitt, Council Leader said: “Leaf fall happens every year and while there are tried and tested methods for disposing of them, it is important that we try new approaches to dealing with things. I’m really pleased to say that this year, we’ve made arrangements to have even more leaves recycled.

“Our cleansing staff are going to continue to do all they can to keep the footways clear but working with residents to support this is new for us and I’m excited for our local communities to be involved in this solution. The local volunteer groups that do litter picks all year round are a vital part of our community and we value all that they do to help keep Thanet looking its best.”

Depending on the success of the trial, resident leaf picking may be rolled out across the district. Residents who are interested in taking part in general litter picks should get in touch with their local litter picking group. 

For information on local litter picks see: thanet.gov.uk/join-a-litter-pick