Vacuum trucks leave nothing behind in Mundelein

Raking leaves can be a hassle. Stuffing those leaves into bags even more so.

Some towns help residents avoid that extra work by allowing leaves to be raked to the curbside, where they're picked up by garbage trucks equipped with large, leaf-consuming vacuums.

Such was the case Monday in Mundelein, where seasonal worker Kevin Green moved a vacuum hose back and forth collecting leaves from alongside village streets.

Green's employer, Groot Industries, is responsible for leaf pickup in the Lake County communities of Antioch, Round Lake Heights, Winthrop Harbor, Park City, Mundelein and Green Oaks.

To help the environment, leaves are taken to compost sites in Wauconda, Antioch and Lakemoor, Groot supervisor Richard Mudd said.

Final collection dates for most of the Lake County communities are in late November. Mundelein's final day is Dec. 8.