With the approaching peak period of leaf fall, the Public Works Department reminds residents to not place loose leaf piles next to vehicles or behind poles, mailboxes, guardrails and fire hydrants.
Crews began using leaf vacuum machines to collect loose leaves from residential neighborhoods on Oct. 1 and will continue through Jan. 31. There is no charge for this service, and no phone call is necessary.
Typically, leaves are collected on the same schedule as garbage collection. Many factors affect productivity and the Public Works Department’s ability to stay on a weekly schedule. Some of the factors are:
- Timing of the first significant frost.
- Duration of leaf fall (gradual or all at once).
- Significant amount of rain or drought during leaf season.
- Occurrence of fair weather raking weekends versus bad weather.
- Early snow falls (if snow occurs, the schedule will be modified accordingly).
- Equipment breakdowns.
An average of 2,500 tons of leaves are collected and disposed of at the compost/mulch facility during leaf collection season.
Residents to assist in the leaf collection by taking the following steps:
- Rake their loose leaves to the property line in a pile for vacuuming or place bagged leaves at the property line for pickup. Free biodegradable bags are available for loose leaves from the Public Works Administrative Office at 998 South Boston Road. For more information, call the Public Works Department at 799-5245.
- If raked to the curb, make sure the leaf pile is placed within reach of the vacuum machine from the paved roadway (no more than four feet). The crews do not have enough manpower to rake piles to the vacuum.
- 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 one time 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.
- Park vehicles away from a leaf pile. The vacuum equipment uses truck-and-trailer combinations, so they require ample space to reach leaf piles.
- Do not place leaves behind poles, mailboxes, guardrails and fire hydrants.
- Do not mix loose leaves with brush, rocks, sticks, limbs, glass, or other solid objects.
- 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, or sidewalks.
- Do not place leaves on the scheduled collection day and expect to have them collected that day. The crew may have already passed through the area.
- If you believe that your leaves were missed, then you are asked to wait one week before calling to report the issue. Trucks will return the following week to collect the leaves.