We mow over them and chop them up to smithereens and let them benefit the lawn.

I don't have a lawn mower.

most plants are self mulching ... i dont see where it could be a problem.. in moderation ...

except for potential vermin ... etc

ken

All plants not small enough to be smothered grow better with permanent mulching than without. Where appearances or fallen leaves blowing about is a concern these can be hidden and trapped beneath shrubs by throwing more decorative and persistent material such as arborist wood chips over the top.

I've never raked a single leaf off of this property. And I'm talking a lot of leaves here in the fall. I do have a rotary mower and have used that forever to chop up leaves. Some I then re-deposit on tree rings and beds, etc. but mostly it is allowed to remain on the lawn. Absolutely no problems for having done so all these years. Since you do not have a mower, by all means then do what you can to still retain them onsite. Fall leaves are high in nutrients that plants need, everything from phosphates and calcium to a high sugar content that enables rapid recycling in nature. The only issue I see is that whereas all the chopping us guys with mowers do tends to limit the amount of subsequent blowing around, your whole leaves might still get caught by the wind and re-spread around. I don't know waxleaf privet, but the privets I do know of were small-leaved affairs and that fact argues in your favor.

+oM

But the leaves do remain bright yellow for a while and could be blown around by wind, if you don't chop them up. Certainly wouldn't do any damage and would be beneficial, if you can live with the look of them.