Free yard waste pickups in Elgin

Elgin residents can place all yard waste out for free collection now. Prepaid refuse stickers are not required and bags will be picked up on regular weekly trash collection days by Waste Management. Leaf collection services vary depending on where you live. Certain areas of the city have been designated as bagging areas. Residents living in bagging areas are required to place their leaves in paper yard waste bags for collection by Waste Management. Residents living in non-bagging areas can rake loose leaves into the street along the curb beginning Oct. 13. City crews will pick up loose leaves beginning at 6 a.m. on first day of the scheduled weekly pickup. Residents can learn if they live in an area that allows for bag or street collection by visiting the city's Web site at cityofelgin.org. A special leaf pickup brochure will be mailed to all residents within the next week.

General leaf pickup guidelines are:

• State law prohibits disposing of leaves and other yard waste in landfills and leaf burning is prohibited in Elgin.

• Leaves placed in plastic bags will not be collected.

• Residents receiving on-street leaf collection should rake leaves into the street along the curb by 6 a.m. the first day of their scheduled weekly pick-up.

• Trash, branches or other yard waste should not be mixed with leaf piles.

• Citizens are urged to avoid on-street parking on scheduled collection days as leaf piles blocked by parked cars will not be collected.

• Do not allow children to play in leaf piles located in the street.

• Weather and other delays may affect on-street leaf collection. Residents are encouraged to bag leaves whenever possible.

Key changes have been made to this year's Fall Leaf Collection Program as part of the city's ongoing efforts to improve public works services and meet the needs of residents.

"Free bagged leaf collection has been extended by one week, through Dec. 5, to allow residents additional time beyond our loose leaf collection schedule to properly dispose of leaves," according to Tish Powell, Public Works Administrative Superintendent. "The additional week will also be helpful in the event the leaves fall later than normal or if it snows before December." Crews also will be working after Thanksgiving Day on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28 and 29, in order to maintain the published schedule.

The city is encouraging residents to "think green" and "recycle" their leaves by mulching or composting them. Rather than raking leaves into the street or bagging them, residents can simply use a lawn mower to mulch leaves back into their lawn. According to Powell, "mulching and composting are great ways to provide your lawn and other plants in your yard with valuable nutrients while reducing waste and saving money. City crews routinely mulch leaves and grass at city parks and other municipal properties with great success."

Residents interested in trying their hand at composting can purchase compost bins at the Elgin Public Works Department for $40 each by check or money order only while supplies last. For more information, call the Elgin Public Works Department at (847) 697-3160, or visit the city's Web site at cityofelgin.org/public works.