MISHAWAKA

The city began its spring leaf pickup Monday, March 23 and it will continue through April 10.

Residents are encouraged to rake leaves to the curb in front of their homes for removal by the street department. Piles should be free of sticks and other debris.

There is no set day for pickup, according to a news release. Crews will be working their way through the city and will remove piles while they are in a particular area. Residents with questions should contact the Street Department at (574) 258-1660.

SOUTH BEND

SPRING RELEAF

The City of South Bend is getting a jump start on the annual Spring ReLeaf program. This year’s program will be offered, on a call-in basis, begin on Monday, March 16. The program will continue for two weeks.

“Operation Spring Releaf is beginning a few weeks earlier this year for two important reasons,” stated Director of Streets, Sam Hensley. “We want to move quickly on cleaning up leaves that we were not able to collect due to the heavy snowfall earlier this winter. In addition, we have developed an aggressive plan for in-house paving and repairs this year and our crews will need to be ready to move forward on these projects as soon as possible.”

All residents are encouraged to rake their loose leaves to the curb, and call the Division of Streets for pickup, at 235-9244. Call-in pickup is the most efficient means for spring leaf pickup, helping to conserve fuel and keep down costs for labor and vehicle maintenance.

Please follow these guidelines for loose-leaf pickup:

• Do not allow children to play in leaf piles near the curb.

• Do not contaminate leaf piles with debris (sticks, trash, etc.). Street crews are unable to collect these piles with vacuum trucks. It will be the owner’s responsibility to dispose of contaminated piles.

• Do not rake leaves into the street. Avoid parking in front of leaf piles to allow access for pick-up.

• There will be no loose leaf pick-up in alleys.

NOTE: Residents are reminded that in order to protect our air quality, burning of leaves is completely prohibited in the City of South Bend and is a violation of City ordinance.

YARD WASTE PICKUP

Bagged leaves and bagged or bundled yard waste pickup is also available on a call-in basis, until Thursday, April 30. Solid Waste will officially begin its standard Yard Waste Program on Monday, May 4.

Residents are also reminded to be sure that all yard waste - leaves, branches, etc. is clear of any animal waste. Animal waste will contaminate the recycling of leaves and yard waste for production of organic mulch.

Please place bagged or bundled yard waste at the curb, and call the Bureau of Solid Waste at 277-8823 for pickup.

Please follow these guidelines for the Yard Waste Program:

• Please place yard waste at curbside in bags or containers, by 6:00 a.m., and separate it from trash and debris.

• Yard waste and brush must be bagged or bundled (no more than 4 feet in length or 1 foot above edge of container).

• Please use suitable containers (30 gallon trash container or smaller) - do not place yard waste in City automated trash containers or the Borden recycling containers.

• Do not place yard waste in the alley.