Above / City of Naperville offers three collection cycles along with other options to clear fallen leaves. Many times local youngsters have been known to team up for hire to help. (PN File Photo)
The City’s bulk curbside leaf collection program will begin on Monday, Oct. 17. This free program provides every neighborhood three collection opportunities during a six-week period, weather permitting.
The program is one of several methods residents can use to dispose of or repurpose fallen leaves and is meant to compliment other options including mulching, composting and free bagged leaf collection.
To participate in curbside collection, rake leaves into the street next to the curb by 6AM on the first day of each collection cycle. Please take care to avoid storm drains. Cycles are scheduled to begin on:
- Monday, Oct. 17
- Monday, Oct. 31
- Monday, Nov. 14
Depending on the weather, it will take crews approximately two weeks to complete each Citywide collection. Crews will collect leaves in front of each home once during each cycle.
An interactive map will be available at naperville.il.us/leafcollection to track progress of the collection cycles. Residents also can sign up for the City’s notification system, Naper Notify, at naperville.il.us/napernotify to receive leaf collection information via a phone call, text message, email or smartphone app.
Residents should note the following
- Snow, rain or freezing weather may significantly delay or permanently halt curbside leaf collection. If the program concludes because of weather, residents should dispose of remaining leaves through the City’s weekly yard waste collection program.
- Leaf volume and weather uncertainties make it impossible for the City to guarantee curbside leaf collection on a specific day.
- 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 other items buried in leaf piles can cause mechanical breakdowns of equipment, delay the collection process and increase costs.
- Please rake leaves away from storm drains to prevent flooding.
- 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 curbside collection in your area, all remaining leaves must be disposed of through the City’s weekly yard waste collection program or reused for landscaping purposes.
Free Bagged Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Program runs Nov. 7-Dec. 16
The City’s free bagged leaf and yard waste collection program is scheduled to run from Nov. 7 to Dec. 16 as another convenient option for leaf disposal. 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. Place yard waste at the curb by 6AM on your normal trash collection day to participate.
Alert! Prior to Nov. 7, a yard waste sticker is required on each bag, can or cart placed out for collection. Branches and other yard waste materials that are tied into bundles always require a yard waste sticker.
All yard waste collection ends for the year on Dec. 16. This includes the City’s yard waste/organics collection program, which 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 Groot Industries.
Yard waste collection will begin again on March 13, 2023.
Repurpose Your Yard Waste
Leaves contain nutrients that can help support a healthy lawn, gardens and the environment. Using yard waste in landscaping can provide a more natural landscape appearance, keep waterways and storm drains clean and help save time and money. Residents should consider the following alternative ways to use yard waste this season:
- When mowing the lawn, use the mulching feature rather than bagging the clippings. Returning grass clippings to the yard keeps it healthy and saves space in the landfill.
- Mix shredded leaves into the soil in the fall and allow them to break down naturally during the winter to improve soil quality. Leaves also provide food, nesting material and cover for several types of wildlife, including birds and butterflies.
- Composted leaves can be used as mulch or covering for vegetable gardens and have several uses in organic lawn care.
For details on the bulk curbside leaf collection or bagged leaf and yard waste collection programs, visit naperville.il.us/leafcollection. For more resources on environmentally friendly ways to reuse yard waste, visit naperville.il.us/yardwaste.
Warning! Don’t park on leaf piles along the curb. Click here for scary story from Halloween 2012. Be safe.
