Set afire or swept away: How the Dundees handle fallen leaves

Pretty leaves don't stay pretty for long.

Once they fall from the trees, they lose their awe and create work for homeowners who have to rake and dispose of them. In East and West Dundee, homeowners have options to make their fallen leaves go away.

East Dundee residents can burn or bag them in the fall. During November, leaf burning is allowed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8 and 9 and Nov. 22 and 23.

Homeowners who opt to forego placing them in the yardwaste bags and enjoy the aroma of the season are urged to use common sense when placing a lighted match to their leaf piles. They are urged not to rake the piles close to their homes or garages and be mindful of how windy the day is.

Also, they are reminded that only leaves and other yard waste can be burned. They cannot burn trash.

Residents who don't comply with the local ordinance will be told by local police to extinguish the fires. If they still don't comply, they could receive a ticket.

"I can't remember anyone receiving a ticket (for leaf burning)," said Robert Skurla, village administrator. "Our ordinance allows residents ample time to burn yard waste. They can burn on the second and fourth weekends in October, November, and April."

East Dundee homeowners also have the option of placing their leaves in bags and putting them by the curb so they can be taken away on Wednesday, garbage day.

West Dundee residents also have options, but burning leaves is not one of them. Homeowners have the choice of raking their leaves in the curb so a public works truck can pick them up or they can put them in yardwaste bags.

The truck and its crew started picking up the leaves in the third week of October. They will continue until the last week of November said, Chuck Behm, interim public works director.

"Every week, we make a pass on every street. There's a lot of leaves to pick up," Behm said. "As we get further into the season and more leaves are on the ground, we may make additional trips down some streets."

Residents who decide to let the trucks take away nature's wonders are reminded not to cover curbside storm drains that may cause flooding rainy days. Also, they are reminded to keep the leaves on the street and close to the curb.

West Dundee homeowners who put the leaves bags out are reminded to keep them out of the street.

In both village, leaves bags will be collected until the end of November.