Above / Thanks to gusty winds, leaves are falling early this autumn. Already residents are raking and blowing leaves into piles along the curb where many parents drop off and pick up school children. (PN Photo)
Editor’s Note / Gardening experts remind us that raking leaves is an autumn tradition & not a necessity for a healthy lawn next spring. Of course, a thick layer of very wet leaves is not advisable to leave unattended, but a damp layer that can be mowed and mulched is good for the soil. Sooooo, you might consider simply mulching your leaves instead of raking.
Three curbside leaf disposal collections are planned over a six-week period, weather permitting.
The City of Naperville’s bulk curbside leaf collection program began Monday, October 19. This program provides every neighborhood with three collection opportunities during the program’s six-week period, weather permitting.
To participate, residents rake leaves into the street, next to the curb in front of a house and avoiding storm drains by 6AM on the first day of each of the three leaf collection cycles. The collection cycles begin on:
- Monday, October 19
- Monday, November 2
- Monday, November 16
Never park on leaf piles along the curb
Above / In the spirit of Naperville Public Safety Month, be mindful never to park on piles of leaves along the curb. Three years ago on Halloween, a parent waiting to pick up a child after school had parked over a pile of leaves near May Watts Elementary School. Within minutes, the car was engulfed in flames and destroyed in seconds. Fortunately, the driver escaped in time. (PN File Photo)
Two-Week Cycles, Weather Permitting
Depending on the weather, it will take crews approximately two weeks to complete each citywide collection cycle. Crews will collect leaves in front of each home once during each two-week collection cycle.
An interactive map will be available at www.naperville.il.us/leafcollection.aspx for residents to track progress of the collection cycles. Residents can also sign up for the City’s notification system Naper Notify atwww.napernotify.com to receive leaf collection information via a phone call, text message, email or smartphone app.
Above / Crews again will prepare leaves for curbside pick up. (PN File Photo)
Residents, Note! Prevent fires & flooding
Snow, rain or freezing weather may significantly delay or permanently halt curbside leaf collection.
If snow is forecast, residents should bag any remaining leaves as leaf collection may end or be significantly delayed.
- Rake leaves to the street during every collection cycle, even if it is a small amount. This helps prevent the final collection crews from having the largest quantity to pick up, when snow is the most probable and timing is crucial.
- Avoid placing items other than leaves in leaf piles. Branches, twigs, lumber, rocks and items other than leaves buried in leaf piles can cause mechanical breakdowns of leaf equipment, delay the collection process and increase the cost of the program.
Above / Rake leaves away from storm drains to prevent flooding.
- The mechanical curbside leaf collection equipment will leave debris on the street. Street sweeping will begin after curbside leaf collection ends, weather permitting. Residents may choose to sweep up leaf debris and include it in the weekly yard waste collection program.
Once crews have completed the final bulk curbside collection in your area, all remaining leaves must be disposed of through the City’s weekly yard waste collection program.
Free Bagged Leaf and Yard Waste Collection Program
The City’s final bulk curbside leaf collection cycle begins on November 16. Leaves remaining after the final collection cycle has ended can be disposed of utilizing the City’s free bagged leaf and yard waste collection program from November 2 to December 11.
During this time, residents are not required to use yard waste stickers to dispose of materials placed in 32-gallon paper yard waste bags, clearly marked 32-gallon trash cans or clearly marked two-wheeled carts. “Yard Waste Only” labels are available at the Public Works Service Center, 180 Fort Hill Drive, for purposes of clearly marking receptacles containing yard waste. Place yard waste at the curb by 6 a.m. on your normal trash collection day.
Branches and other yard waste that are tied into bundles require a yard waste sticker at all times. Prior to November 2, a yard waste sticker is required on each bag, can, cart or bundle placed out for collection.
All yard waste collection ends for the year on December 11. This includes the City’s yard waste/organics collection program that allows residents to bypass bagging and stickers by utilizing a provided cart to dispose of food waste/organics and yard waste for a monthly fee paid to Waste Management.
Yard waste collection will begin again on March 14, 2016.
For more information on the bulk curbside leaf collection or bagged leaf and yard waste collection programs, visit www.naperville.il.us/leafcollection.aspx.
RELATED POSTS: Since this current website was launched in 2012, many related stories have been saved in the PN Archive. Always be sure to look at the date/year of the post. For instance, use the “Search of Something” tool on the navigation bar to find other stories about “Leaf collection” or “Public Safety.” Thanks.
