Update 11-06-2009:

This Wednesday, City of South Bend Leaf-Vac Crews collected the single, largest amount of leaves in several years with a one day total of 139 truck loads or 4,825 cubic yards of leaves.  The total to date, this year, is 572 truck loads and 19,605 cubic yards, all delivered to Organic Resources for recycling.  "This is a huge step in accomplishing a successful fall leaf cleanup and is the result of community residents and the city partnering together," said Sam Hensley, Director of Streets.  (Last year, total leaf pickup reached approximately 62,000 cubic yards by the end of the program.)

Unfortunately, given the amount of leaves that have fallen, early, this year, Leaf Crews are approximately two days behind schedule.  As a result, the Bureau of Streets Leaf Team, along with assistance from Water Works, Solid Waste, Equipment Services, Parks, and Code Enforcement will be working this Saturday and Sunday in order to catch up and to be back on the established schedule. 

See map attached for original schedule

This weekend, crews will be working south from Ewing to Ireland Road on the east side of the city and hope to be on schedule to complete the southeast quadrant on Monday, November 9, as originally scheduled.  

Residents are asked to help by parking off the street, and most importantly, away from leaf piles in this area, until the Leaf Vacs have been through on Saturday or Sunday between 7a and 5pm.  This will allow for quicker cleanup and more efficiencies.

The Leaf Crews are in the middle of the first round of loose leaf pickup and will be heading to the Westside of the city next week.  Crews will be working per the following schedule:

Note:  City leaf crews will be working Veteran's Day in order to maintain this schedule

• November 9th Southeast Quadrant bounded by Ireland Rd. on the North, City Limits on the South, Michigan St. on the West, and City Limits on the East.
• November 10th Southwest Quadrant bounded by the City Limits on the South, Indiana Ave. on the North, Michigan St. on the East, and City Limits on the West.
• November 11th Southwest Quadrant bounded by Indiana Ave. on the South, Western Ave. on the North, Michigan St. on the East, and City Limits on the West.
• November 12th Southwest Quadrant bounded by Western Ave. on the South, Washington St./R.R. Tracks on the North, Michigan St. on the East, and City Limits on the West.
• November 13th Northwest Quadrant bounded by Washington St./R.R. Tracks on the South, Elwood Ave. on the North, Michigan St. on the East, and City Limits on the West.

See map attached for complete schedule.

As always, leftover leaves may be bagged for curbside pickup by the Division of Solid Waste.  Bagged leaves will be picked up on the regularly scheduled trash collection day.  Please note that curbside pickup for bagged leaves will continue throughout the winter, however, beginning December 7, residents must call in for pickup.  Residents are asked to please call the Bureau of Solid Waste at 277-8515 to schedule the pickup.

The annual Operation ReLeaf program will begin Monday, November 2 in the northeast  quadrant of the City and continue clockwise around the city for five weeks, ending on   December 7, weather permitting.  City Leaf-Vac crews will sweep each neighborhood twice in the five-week period. 

View 2009 Fall ReLeaf Map*

Schedule listed below.

South Bend's Department of Public Works' Division of Streets is committed to implementing Mayor Steve Luecke's Clean City Initiative with an effective plan to collect leaves, keep streets and drains clean and clear, and even more importantly support good environmental stewardship.  All leaves and yard waste are 100% recycled at the City's Organic Resource Facility.  Mulch and compost are then made available to local residents for free or at very limited cost, if staff assists with loading.  South Bend's comprehensive leaf collection program also helps keep our river and streams cleaner, reducing impact on our sewer and storm water systems.

Special Note:  The city will also distribute free, recyclable leaf bags from the Division of Streets, call 235-9244 or stop by to pickup. 

As always, the City of South Bend provides a year-round bagged leaf and yard waste pickup plan.  Now, through Dec. 4 residents may place bagged or bundled yard waste at the curb for pickup on their regular trash pickup days.  After Dec 4, and until next spring, residents can still place bagged leaves and yard waste at the curb for pickup, but must call the Bureau of Solid Waste, 277-8515.  Or, consider the environmental benefits of mowing leaves to keep the nutrients on the lawn, and avoid raking altogether.

View 2009 Fall ReLeaf Map*

CITY OF SOUTH BEND OPERATION RELEAF 2009

 The following areas are scheduled for Leaf Pick up beginning November 2nd, 2009 through December 7th, 2009.  Crews will be working the following schedule:

November 2nd & November 18th – Northeast Quadrant bounded by the City Limits on the North, McKinley Blvd. on the South, Michigan St. on the West, and City Limits on the East.

November 3rd & November 19th – Northeast Quadrant bounded by McKinley Blvd. on the North, Jefferson Blvd. on the South, Michigan St. on the West, and City Limits on the East.

November 4th & November 20th – Northeast Quadrant bounded by Jefferson Blvd. on the North, St Joe River on the South, Michigan St. on the West, and City Limits on the East.

November 5th & November 23rd – Southeast Quadrant bounded by the St. Joe River on the North, Ewing St. on the South, Michigan St. on the West, and City Limits on the East.

November 6th & November 24th – Southeast Quadrant bounded by Ewing St. on the North, Ireland Rd. on the South, Michigan St. on the West, and City Limits on the East.

November 9th & November 25th – Southeast Quadrant bounded by Ireland Rd. on the North, City Limits on the South, Michigan St. on the West, and City Limits on the East.

November 10th & November 30th – Southwest Quadrant bounded by the City Limits on the South, Indiana Ave. on the North, Michigan St. on the East, and City Limits on the West.

November 11th & December 1st – Southwest Quadrant bounded by Indiana Ave. on the South, Western Ave. on the North, Michigan St. on the East, and City Limits on the West.

November 12th & December 2nd – Southwest Quadrant bounded by Western Ave. on the South, Washington St./R.R. Tracks on the North, Michigan St. on the East, and City Limits on the West.

November 13th & December 3rd – Northwest Quadrant bounded by Washington St./R.R. Tracks on the South, Elwood Ave. on the North, Michigan St. on the East, and City Limits on the West.

November 16th & December 4th – Northwest Quadrant bounded by Elwood Ave. on the South, Lathrop St. on the North, Michigan St. on the East, and City Limits on the West. 
 
November 17th & December 7th – Northwest Quadrant bounded by Lathrop St. on the South, City Limits on the North, Michigan St. on the East, and City Limits on the West.

View Fall 2009 ReLeaf Map*

THINGS TO REMEMBER

DO NOT allow children to play in leaf piles, for their safety!

Please rake leaves to the curb line but avoid raking them into the street, as this will plug the street drains causing them to flood.

Avoid parking on top or in front of leaf piles along curb lines.

Do not contaminate leaf piles by putting in sticks, trash, and other debris.  The city will not pick these piles up and it will be the property owner's responsibility to dispose of contaminated piles.  (We will not come back to these piles.)

Avoid raking leaves to curb lines after crews have finished your street.  Crews will not return until the next scheduled day in your area.

Burning of leaves is totally prohibited and in violation of City ordinance.

TO HEAR A TAPE RECORDED MESSAGE OF OUR WEEKLY SCHEDULE, PLEASE CALL: 287.5005. 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL
235.9244 or 235.9245,  Monday – Friday 7 am – 4 pm.

*Acrobat Reader Required

Street Department
731 South Lafayette St. • South Bend, Indiana 46601
574.235.9244