MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Autumn is called "Fall" for a reason, and leaves are piling up. Fortunately, Meridian Township residents have a number of options when it comes time to dispose of their leaves.

One of the most straight-forward options is for residents to mulch their leaves with either their normal mowers or specialized mulching mowers. Studies done at Michigan State University show that a healthy turf can quickly break down and absorb up to eight inches of leaf coverage if properly mulched.

Residents can also place leaves within their own compost collections, or donate them to a neighbor's or a community compost collection.

Leaves can also be gathered, bagged, and left on the curb for a usual waste hauler. However, this usually requires an additional arrangement between resident and contractor. For example, Granger's rates for lawn waste removal include $2 per bag, $5 per cubic yard, and $15 for small trees. Granger also insists that sticks be no larger than eight inches in diameter or 15 inches long.

Meridian Township also offers the Meridian Recycling Center, which partners with local farms and landscapers to put yard compost towards the improvement of Meridian Township. Similar to Granger, the Recycling Center is a pay-to-use service, but does offer limited amounts of complimentary compost. The Recycling Center is not publicly funded.

Meridian Township has no official preference for leaf disposal.