Fall Maintenance Tips
Why It Matters
Grand Rapids has more than 17,000 storm drains, and each one plays a part in keeping our streets from flooding. Every fall, leaves and yard debris pile up on drains, in ditches, and around culverts across the city. When that happens, water has nowhere to go, and that's when streets, yards, and basements start flooding.
It only takes a few minutes to clear the drain, ditch, or culvert near your home, and it makes a real difference when the rain hits.
Clear Storm Drains
Rake or sweep leaves, grass clippings, sticks, trash, and other debris off the drain grate near your home, then place it in your yard waste container. Check the drains near your property about once a week and clear them as needed. A clear grate means water goes where it's supposed to.
Maintain Ditches and Culverts
No curb on your street? A ditch is doing that job instead. Clear out the leaves, grass clippings, sticks, trash, and other debris, and keep both ends of any culvert pipe clear. Open pipes and ditches keep the water moving instead of pooling in your yard or driveway.
Manage Yard Waste the Right Way
The City of Grand Rapids doesn't offer automatic leaf pickup, but here's how to manage your yard waste properly! You have a few options for curbside collection, or you can drop everything off for free.
- Yard Waste Cart – Order a reusable 96-gallon cart for curbside pickup. Attach a
Yard Waste Tag each time you want it emptied. - City Paper Bags – Fill City-branded paper bags with leaves and clippings and set
them at the curb. - Bulk Items – Bundle branches and twigs (no more than 4 feet long or 2 inches in
diameter), tag and tie them, and set at the curb. - Free Drop-Off – Skip curbside altogether and bring yard waste to the City Yard
Waste Facility at no cost.
Location
City Yard Waste Facility
2001 Butterworth Street SW
Open early April through the second Saturday in December
Adopt a Drain
Every drain deserves a little love. Adopting a drain near your home is free through LGROW's Adopt-a-Drain program, and you get to name it too. Regularly clearing leaves, grass clippings, sticks, trash, and other debris from your adopted drain helps prevent flooding and keeps debris out of the Grand River. Neighborhood associations, schools, and volunteer groups can adopt several at once and turn it into a team effort.
Compost at Home
Leaves and yard trimmings don't even have to leave your yard. Composting keeps them out of the waste stream entirely and turns into good soil for next year.
“I do my best work when you keep me clear”
Your yard ends at the curb. The water doesn’t.
