Lexington’s vacuum leaf collection begins Wednesday

Curtis Swain practiced collecting leaves yesterday on Larch Lane in Meadowthorpe in advance of Wednesday’s start of the city’s leaf vacuuming program.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The leaves are falling and that means Lexington’s vacuum leaf collection is starting again! The service starts Wednesday and will continue through Friday, December 18.

Families that receive city waste collection services should rake their leaves into the area between the sidewalk and the street the Sunday before their scheduled vacuum collection, the city says.

If your sidewalk abuts the curb or if you have no sidewalk, place the leaves on the edge of your lawn closest to the street. Never rake leaves into the street; they can cause traffic hazards and clog storm drains.

Piles should contain only leaves. Other objects, such as tree limbs and rocks, can injure crew members or damage equipment.

Residents with city waste services can also dispose of their leaves on regular collection days throughout the year using their gray yard cart or yard waste bags. Coupons for free yard waste bags can be obtained by calling LexCall at 311.

The vacuum pickup is offered for city-served, single-family homes once a year. You can find your scheduled vacuum dates using the interactive map here.

Adverse weather can affect scheduled dates. When this happens the interactive map will be updated. Daily updates will be posted online listing what streets have been serviced.

New for 2015, the city is offering text notifications about the leaf vacuum program. If you sign up, you will receive a text message when there are vacuum updates for your neighborhood. It is a good way to know when to rake your leaves to the edge of your lawn.

To sign up for the notifications, go to www.citygram.org/lexington and click on the leaf collection button. Enter your address and cell phone number. The service is free, but normal text rates from your cell phone provider may apply. You can also opt to get a weekly email notification.

All city residents have the following options for disposing of leaves year-round at no cost:

• Haley Pike composting facility located at 4216 Hedger Lane (two free loads per month)
• Using a mulching mower
• Composting

For more information, call LexCall at 3-1-1 or visit www.lexingtonky.gov/leaves.