As fall foliage piles up in yards and streets around Arlington, the county’s annual leaf collection program begins next week.
Leaf vacuums will suck up fallen leaves in 19 neighborhoods beginning on Monday, Nov. 10. The first pass will continue every weekday through Nov. 28, only taking a day off for Thanksgiving.
The second pass begins promptly thereafter, collecting remaining leaves through Dec. 17.
Each neighborhood’s civic association will post signs notifying residents of their leaf collection date, and a complete schedule of neighborhood visits is available online. Residents can track progress on their street through a live leaf collection map.
The county offers the following tips to prepare for leaf vacuuming.
- Rake leaves to curb the weekend before the posted start of zone collection (residents with contract lawn services should plan ahead).
- Don’t block roadways with leaves more than seven days in advance of a scheduled vacuum leaf collection as it can interfere with traction, blocks traffic, limits street parking and is a potential fire hazard.
- Pile leaves away from storm drains, water meter covers, low wires and parked cars.
- Remove stones, litter, branches and other debris from leaves to prevent equipment damage and worker injuries.
- Don’t place leaves in plastic bags or trash carts.
- Never park your car on leaf piles — it’s a fire hazard.
- Drive slowly around leaf trucks, especially when passing.
- Always look out for children playing in and around curbside leaf piles.
Waste collection crews will also pick up leaves that are either placed in biodegradable paper bags or loaded into green yard waste carts. Never use plastic bags for yard waste, since they can’t be composted and won’t be collected.
Residents can pick up paper yard-waste bags for free at various locations around Arlington.
