Falling leaves keep Vorarlberg city crews busy for weeks

Vorarlberg city crews spend weeks clearing autumn leaves, with Feldkirch collecting 50 to 60 tonnes in a typical season, ORF Vorarlberg reports.

In Feldkirch, two street-sweeping machines work through the leaves. The city’s maintenance depot estimates they each log about 336 operating hours in October and November. Leaf blowers and transport add to the workload, with about 25 truck trips needed over the autumn. Disposal alone costs between 5,000 and 10,000 euros, depending on the weather; that figure excludes staff and machinery. The city said the estimates reflect a typical autumn and are not based on a detailed annual review.

In Bludenz, street sweepers spend about two extra days a week clearing leaves. The city puts the additional machinery and operating costs at around 1,850 euros a week, or nearly 15,000 euros over eight weeks. The schedule depends on the trees and weather: freezing temperatures followed by strong föhn winds can cause many leaves to fall at once.

Bregenz estimates that leaf removal takes about 1,500 staff hours a year. Crews collect an average of about 300 cubic metres of leaves, equivalent to roughly 60 truckloads with a five-cubic-metre capacity each.

The overall cost of leaf removal across the cities could not be determined because much of the work is part of regular operations and is not recorded separately. Hohenems also cited this difficulty, while Dornbirn said it could not provide more precise figures.

Bregenz limits leaf removal to areas where it is necessary. Leaves must be cleared from public traffic routes where they pose a safety risk, and drainage inlets must be kept clear to allow water to flow. Leaves can remain under trees and shrubs and on suitable green spaces, where the city says they shelter animals, help build soil and retain moisture. Clearing only where needed also saves staff time and fuel.