Doylestown Borough will start vacuuming leaves from curbs on Monday, Oct. 12, the first date in a five-area collection schedule that runs through Dec. 14.
The Borough divides its streets into five areas, each getting two pickups during the fall season, according to the Borough's announcement posted Wednesday, Sept. 16. All collection days fall on Mondays. The full schedule:
- Area One: Oct. 12 and Nov. 16
- Area Two: Oct. 19 and Nov. 23
- Area Three: Oct. 26 and Nov. 30
- Area Four: Nov. 2 and Dec. 7
- Area Five: Nov. 9 and Dec. 14
Leaves must be at the curb by Monday morning of the scheduled week. Miss the window, and crews move on.
Three rules apply.
First, only leaves go to the curb. No sticks, branches, rocks, bricks or other debris. The Borough said its vacuum machines handle leaves only, and putting anything else out is unlawful. Non-leaf material can damage equipment and endanger workers.
Second, pile leaves on the grass at the edge of the yard, not in the street or gutter. Wet leaves block storm drains, create drainage problems and are harder for crews to collect.
Third, get leaves out on time. The Borough's vacuum trucks follow a set route, and there is no guarantee of a return pass once a street has been serviced.
The leaf collection program is an established Borough service with a dedicated page on the Borough's website under Resident Services. The Borough has continued offering curbside pickup even as some neighboring communities have scaled back.
Residents who miss both of their scheduled dates can bag leaves and drop them off at the Borough facility at 300 Harvey Ave. The announcement does not list hours for the drop-off site.
The Borough's announcement also does not include a map showing which streets fall in each of the five areas. Residents unsure of their zone can call Borough Hall at (215) 345-4140. Borough Hall is at 10 Doyle St., Doylestown.
