CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the transition of the annual bulk curbside leaf collection program to a four-week, two-cycle program beginning in fall 2019
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DEPARTMENT: Department of Public Works
SUBMITTED BY: John Rutkowski, Deputy Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Naperville's thriving urban forest provides a lush, diverse canopy of greenery enjoyed by residents and visitors alike during the warm weather months. However, as cooler weather begins, the logistics of disposing of a significant amount of falling leaves in a large community comes to the forefront.
To aid residents with leaf disposal, the City provides two leaf collection options: a free bagged leaf program from the end of October through mid-December, and the popular six-week bulk curbside leaf collection, which provides residents in Naperville with three opportunities each season to rake their leaves curbside for pickup and disposal by DPW. The bulk collection program is intended to augment, not replace, the bagged program and enhance leaf removal options for the community.
The bulk program begins six weeks prior to Thanksgiving and ends after the third and final pickup is complete, or when winter weather prevents DPW from picking up leaves. The timing and end date of the bulk leaf collection program is critical as DPW must have enough time to convert the equipment used in leaf collection over to winter operations prior to the first snowfall.
The annual bulk curbside leaf program has been in existence for over 25 years, with DPW annually collecting approximately 40,000 to 50,000 cubic yards of leaves during the six-week program. When Naperville was a smaller, less developed community with less mature trees, it was a very viable program. However, as Naperville has grown and its urban forest has matured, the program has become more difficult to administer and effectively complete.
Current Program Considerations
Numerous considerations impact...
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