Above / Local brilliance along the parkways throughout Naperville neighborhoods has yet to arrive, but three start dates for cycles are on the calendar for curbside leaf collection. (PN File Photo)
Neighborhoods have three curbside leaf disposal opportunities over a six-week period, weather permitting beginning Mon., Oct. 15.
The City of Naperville’s bulk curbside leaf collection 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, at the beginning of each of the three leaf collection cycles.
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. (Click here for the City map that will designate crews.)
The final Citywide collection cycle begins on November 12 and is expected to end November 21.
Leaves must be raked into street by 6AM on following dates…
Monday, October 15
Monday, October 29
Monday, November 12
The City uses specialized mechanical equipment to collect leaves from the street. Leaf volume and weather uncertainties make it impossible for the City to guarantee curbside leaf collection on a specific day.
Residents can also sign up for the City’s notification system Naper Notify at www.napernotify.com to receive leaf collection information via a phone call, text message, email or smartphone app.
Reminder… Burning leaves is not permitted within City limits. Mulching and composting leaves are OK. Also never dump anything into the storm drains. If a storm drain is along the curb in front of your home or on your property, help keep drains free from falling leaves and litter.
Residents, please note…
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.
Rake leaves away from storm drains in the street 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 bagged collection program.
Once crews have completed the final collection in your area, all remaining leaves must be bagged for pickup through the bagged leaf and yard waste collection program.
Free Bagged Leaf and Yard Waste Collection Program
The City’s final bulk curbside leaf collection cycle begins on November 12. 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 October 29 to December 14.
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 October 29, 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 15. 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 18, 2019.
For more information on the bulk curbside leaf collection or bagged leaf and yard waste collection programs, visit www.naperville.il.us/leafcollection.
Updated from 2017 on Sept. 30, 2018.
