Oct. 17: Free leaf pickup in Aurora

Aurora residents will once again be able to dispose of their leaves for free as part of the City’s annual fall leaf collection program.

The fall leaf collection will start the week of Monday, Oct. 17 and will last through Friday, Dec. 2. Leaves must be put into a 30-gallon Kraft paper yard waste bag and placed at the curb on the residents’ regular garbage pickup day. Garbage stickers will not be required for bags that contain only leaves.

Yard waste collection also will take place through Dec. 2. Yard waste, such as grass clippings, weeds and brush; and branches and limbs less than a ½ inch in diameter, must be placed in a 30-gallon Kraft paper yard waste bag weighing a maximum of 60 pounds. A waste sticker, which is the same used to dispose of garbage, must be attached to the paper bags. However, yard waste mixed with garbage or leaves and yard waste put in a garbage can or plastic bag will not be collected.

Residents looking to dispose of tree branches and limbs should cut them down to ½ to 4 inches in diameter and 2 to 4 feet in length. They may be placed unbundled at the curb without a waste sticker. Branches and limbs must be put in neat, manageable piles with the cut side of the limbs facing the street. Brush that is found in unorganized piles will not be collected. If a contractor is used to cut down branches, it is the responsibility of the contractor to remove and dispose of that material. Unbundled brush collection will end Friday, Nov. 4.

Leaf collection, yard waste and unbundled brush collection takes place on residents’ regular garbage collection day and should be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. For more information, visit the City’s website at www.aurora-il.org or call the City’s Customer Service Division at 630-256-INFO.