As the recent brushfire at the Borelli Farm illustrates, piles of leaves and brush don't disappear all on their own. Managed properly, however, recycled leaves from residents' yards can be turned into a valuable compost (called "brown gold" by gardeners), and now the town's Department of Public Works is in the planning stages to conduct its own leaf composting processes instead of outsourcing the effort. Once operational, the initiative is projected to save the town money, as well as generate revenue.

Public Works is in the process of selecting a site for the composting process, according to Director of Public Works Lynn Sadosky. There are a couple of sites the town is considering and the location will be "narrowed down" in the next month. Then, the town will have to apply for a permit through the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), which can take six to eight weeks.

The town's Planning & Zoning Commission must also grant its approval, said Sadosky. She said that the site needs to be a maximum of three acres and not too close to homes.

The town owns the sites that are under consideration. One is in an industrial area and the other is in a farming area, according to Sadosky.

Sadosky said it can take from six months to one year to produce compost. The town will use it in its parks and residents will be able to get it for free.

"What we don't use, we'll auction off to landscapers and contractors," said Sadosky. "That will yield $10,000 to $15,000 a year."

Sadosky said many people use compost in their gardens.

Sadosky said her department visited the composting operation in South Windsor, which Sadosky said is similar in size to North Haven, to learn more about such operations.

North Haven's plan to have similar operations is "still in the infancy stage," stressed Sadosky, but Public Works expects to have processes up and running for this fall's leaf collection. Sadosky said Public Works generates 7,000 cubic yards of leaves a year (including bagged and loose leaves).

Sadosky said a payloader dedicated to the composting process is necessary, so Public Works may need to add another one to its fleet. The department will also have to purchase a manure spreader, but the town will save the roughly $70,000 a year it pays a third party for composting now.