Public Works crews are working extended hours to collect loose leaves. The recent snowstorm and its lingering accumulation put crews behind schedule. In addition, there have been equipment breakdowns.
Crews are working extra hours each day, and they will work on Saturday and the Christmas Eve holiday. However, crews likely will not reach every street by Christmas Day.
The loose-leaf collection program began in October, but was halted temporarily as crews assisted with cleanup and recovery from Tropical Storm Michael. Crews resumed full-scale collection on Nov. 12.
Loose-leaf collection will continue through Jan. 31. There is no charge for this service, and no phone call is necessary.
The department asks residents to assist in the leaf collection by taking the following steps:
- Rake loose leaves to the property line in a pile for vacuuming or bag leaves for pickup. Loose leaves can be placed in front of your property any time prior to your collection day. Bagged leaves should be placed out, no sooner than, the evening prior to your collection day. Biodegradable bags are available for loose leaves from the Public Works Administrative Office at 998 South Boston Road.
- Rake leaves, including those that have accumulated in the gutters, into defined piles to be collected. The gutters will be cleaned throughout the whole city at the end of leaf season. The crews do not have the equipment or manpower to vacuum the length of all the gutters each week.
- Make sure the leaf pile is placed within reach of the vacuum machine from the paved roadway (no more than four feet). Do not rake loose leaves next to vehicles or behind poles, mailboxes, guardrails and fire hydrants.
- Park vehicles away from the leaf pile. The city’s vacuum equipment uses truck-and-trailer combinations, so they require ample space to reach leaf piles.
- Do not place loose leaves in ditches below grade level.
- Do not mix loose leaves with brush, rocks, sticks, limbs, glass and other solid objects.
- Do not rake leaves on the scheduled collection day and expect to have them collected that day. The crew may have already passed through the area.
- Avoid if possible, placing loose leaves in storm gutters blocking the flow of water to storm drains or inlets.
- Avoid, if possible, placing loose leaves on top of water meters, gas meters, manholes and sidewalks.