City of Cleveland Reactivates Seasonal Leaf Pick-Up Program

Additional neighborhood service is a result of Issue 32 and the mayor’s enhanced budget

CLEVELAND – The City of Cleveland today announced a relaunch of its seasonal leaf pick-up program. Residents will see city workers and vehicles in designated neighborhoods from November 6th to December 31st, weather permitting. The convenient program focuses on pick-ups in high leaf-generation areas, reducing the need for residents to manually collect leaves. View the maps.  

The renewed program, which was halted in 2011 due to budget constraints, is a result of Issue 32 and Mayor Frank G. Jackson’s enhanced budget. It is also part of the mayor’s Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative, a series of programs and legislation focused on improving quality of life for neighborhood residents. 

“It is thanks to residents in the City of Cleveland for their support of Issue 32 that the reinstatement of this important service is made possible,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “The Leaf Pick-Up Program is one of many city services renewed by Issue 32 that help to build Healthy Neighborhoods and improve the overall quality of life for all Clevelanders.”

What to Expect

• Residents in the designated areas should expect leaf pick-up signs posted one week prior to service. 
• To streamline the pick-up process, residents are encouraged to rake leaves from their property onto the tree lawn. 
• To accommodate city crews, residents are asked to park off-street, if possible, during the service period. Each area will be serviced a minimum of two times within the 8-week period (weather permitting). 
• Leaves will be transported to an approved leaf compost site, diverting more than 2,000 tons of leaf material from the waste stream.

High leaf generation areas are determined through assessments by the Division of Urban Forestry and the Department of Public Works. These areas are determined to have the highest concentration of city-owned trees located on tree lawns and/or those areas potentially causing flooding or other hazardous conditions. The city’s six service stations will systematically deploy sweepers, leaf machines, end loaders, and leaf blowers in these areas throughout the day.

Eight leaf vacuum machines will be in use during the pick-up process. The City has also purchased two new and refurbished six vehicles. An additional 24 seasonal drivers and 16 seasonal laborers have been added to the Division of Streets to help support the program.

Mayor Jackson, who announced his 2017 budget enhancements in February, promised Cleveland residents an increase in city services to area neighborhoods. The Department of Public Works, which oversees street sweeping, pothole repair, recreation and other services received a significant increase in staff and equipment as a result of Issue 32. 

The department’s budget has increased by $4.6 million. It has also improved park and playground infrastructure maintenance, urban forestry and has a stronger focus on illegal dumping reduction and clean-up. 

For more information about the Cleveland Department of Public Works, the leaf pick-up program or Mayor Jackson’s 2017 enhanced budget, visit www.city.cleveland.oh.us. 

About the City of Cleveland

The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents by strengthening neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing diversity and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, play, and do business. For more information on the City of Cleveland, visit online at www.city.cleveland.oh.us, Twitter at @cityofcleveland or Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofcleveland.

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