Leaf Collection Guidelines

You can help make the leaf collection process safer and more efficient by following these guidelines:

• Rake your leaves into the street for pickup no later than 7 AM on the Monday of your scheduled collection weeks, but no earlier than 4 PM on the day before your scheduled collection.
• Do not park on the street during pickup days in your neighborhood because vehicles block the curb for leaf collection equipment.
• Avoid parking over piles of leaves as a warm car can ignite the leaves underneath it and create a fire hazard.
• Do not rake leaves around the edges of cul-de-sac islands because the equipment cannot make small enough turns around the islands. Rake leaves to the residential curbside.
• Clear leaves away from neighborhood storm inlets to help prevent flooding during rain. Rake leaves into the street about 12 inches away from the curb to allow rainfall to drain along the gutter and into storm inlets.
• Leaves must be raked into the street on the pavement. Leaves raked just over the edge of the curb or left on the parkway will not be picked up as the leaf machines can damage the parkway areas. If your street does not have curbs, pile your leaves as close to the shoulder of the road as possible, without hindering vehicular traffic.
• Place leaf piles away from trash and recycling bins where possible.
• Do not include non-leaf material (grass clippings, branches, dirt, etc.) because it can damage equipment and cause safety issues. Piles with any debris besides leaves will be left at the curb.
• If you hire a landscaping service, notify them of the collection schedule. Landscapers must follow the same guidelines and may not place leaves in the street any earlier than 4 PM on the day prior to collection. Property owners are responsible for the actions of their contractors and may be subject to a fine. If your landscaper is coming earlier than the day before your pickup, ask them to either haul the leaves away or place the leaves in the parkway and then you can put them in the street prior to 7 AM on collection day.

If you have any questions, please call the Department of Public Works at (847) 705-5200.