Bulk Leaf Pickup Continues Despite Delays In Naperville

NAPERVILLE, IL --- The City of Naperville is continuing its bulk leaf pickup after late November's winter storm caused unexpected delays in collection and frustrated complaints from residents. City officials sent a news release Wednesday saying that leaf collection was expected to continue Thursday.

This marks the third collection cycle the city is making to pick up leaves curbside, this time with the help of extra trucks from Groot Industries. The city stressed on its website that the third collection is "highly dependent on weather, and, more specifically, snowfall."

Officials said that many of the trucks used to clear leaves must be converted to plow and salt streets after a heavy snowfall.

Residents can get an idea of when their leaves will be collected by checking out Naperville's bulk leaf collection interactive map. The map is programmed to update twice daily, at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., to let residents know when their leaves are likely to be collected.

City officials resumed the first received criticism after opting to cease bulk leaf collection in the midst of the third cycle due to the recent blizzard. In a press release on Nov. 28, the city expressed an apology to residents "for poor communication during the third collection cycle and immediately before Sunday's snowstorm." They added that the third collection cycle would resume as originally intended to "make it right."

Despite the added trucks to its fleet, the city told residents via email that it is possible that bulk leaf collection "may take into the early months of 2019 to complete," if weather conditions are inclement.

Image via Shutterstock