Fall Leaves and Water Quality

Autumn leaves in Chicago blanket the streets, parks, and lawns in brilliant fall colors. It’s a natural and necessary process for trees to shed their leaves. However, leaf litter is part of our waste stream, and decaying leaves can pose a significant challenge to Chicago’s water quality and health when they end up in our city’s rivers. Piles of leaves left in the street can cover street sewers and clog drains, resulting in urban flooding. While leaves naturally return nutrients to the soil as they decompose, when they accumulate in Chicago’s stormwater system and local waters, they become pollutants.

‍

Wind and heavy rains can blow leaves into storm drains. It’s not uncommon to see residents and lawn care companies blowing leaves into the street. Once leaves enter waterways, they add nitrogen and phosphorus to the system, leading to nutrient pollution. This promotes algal blooms, threatening the health of water for both people and wildlife. While Chicagoans don’t have to worry about nutrient-rich drinking water, since the reversal of the Chicago River directs treated combined sewage and stormwater away from Lake Michigan, the health of the city’s waterways still directly impacts the quality of life—affecting anglers, boaters, riverfront businesses, and homes.

‍

Chicagoans are encouraged to keep yard waste and leaf litter out of landfills. In 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) estimated that states composted over 20 million tons of yard waste. Landfills aren’t ideal for leaves because, although they are considered "waste," they take up space that could be used for materials that can’t be recycled or composted easily. Disposing of yard waste in landfills is also costly and contributes to climate change due to methane emissions. Additionally, burning leaf litter is not encouraged. In Illinois, “open burning” is illegal for anyone living within a mile of a town with a population of 1,000 or more. Landscape waste is only allowed to be burned on the premises where it is generated, as long as local ordinances don’t limit such burning, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).

‍

Chicagoans can call 311 for leaf litter pick-up. Waste should be bagged separately and left outside of garbage carts and recycling carts for collection. A Department of Streets and Sanitation truck dedicated to yard waste will collect the leaf litter and take it to be composted. Residents can also contact their alderperson for park clean-ups or work with neighbors to collect leaf litter, helping to keep the block flood-free and protect Chicago’s waterways this fall.

‍

While leaf litter is a natural part of the ecosystem, its pollution of Chicago’s waterways poses a significant environmental challenge. By working together, being proactive, engaging the community, and using sustainable practices, Black Chicago can help preserve its beautiful waterways and ensure a healthy ecosystem for future generations. The responsibility to protect these resources lies not only with policymakers but with every resident who calls this vibrant city home.

‍