For immediate release: Oct. 24, 2014 

Contact: Rachel Gordon, 415-554-6045

AS THE GIANTS TRY TO SWEEP THE ROYALS HERE AT HOME,  SAN FRANCISCANS CAN SWEEP LEAVES FROM THE SIDEWALKS 

Simple way to help minimize flood risk: Grab your brooms

San Francisco, CA – With the fall season upon us and rain in the forecast for Saturday, now is a great time to grab your brooms and sweep up the fallen leaves from the sidewalk, curbside gutters and catch basins and put them in your compost bin.

Public Works will provide residents and merchants who sign up for our Adopt-a-Street program free compost bags, brooms, gloves and other tools needed to help keep neighborhoods free of green waste, litter and graffiti. More information can be found atwww.sfpublicworks.org/volunteer.

Picking up leaves can help minimize flooding. The City maintains 25,000 catch basins, which also are known as storm drains. When they clog with debris and leaves, the rainwater runoff can build up and flood nearby streets, sidewalks and properties.

Keeping the sidewalks clean is the responsibility of fronting property owners, and rubbish and leaves should not be swept into the street or catch basins.

About San Francisco Public Works: The 24/7 City agency cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and nurtures City-maintained street trees; designs, constructs and maintains City-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; builds curb ramps; eradicates graffiti; partners with neighborhoods; trains people for jobs; greens the right of way; and educates our communities.

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