Overview
- Property owners inside built‑up areas must keep adjacent sidewalks clear; Witten escalates from notices to €15–€55 warnings and about €180 plus fees in formal cases.
- Witten has about 63 leaf bins and the Ennepe‑Ruhr‑Kreis is taking leaves free through 8 November, with a second collection week planned depending on weather.
- Open burning of garden waste is prohibited under federal waste law, with penalties reported up to €50,000; dumping leaves in forests or open countryside is unlawful.
- Approved disposal options include biobins, household compost and municipal drop‑offs, but leaves should not be swept into gutters; experts advise no more than roughly 20% leaves in compost and shredding slow‑rotting species.
- Environmental guidance favors rakes over blowers, which face time‑of‑day limits in residential areas, and suggests keeping wildlife‑friendly leaf piles away from lawns and walkways.