October 15, 2019 - The Public Works Division joined residents of the Bittersweet Lakes Community Association this afternoon to announce the 2019 Leaf Pick-up schedule. This year’s timetable will be starting later than normal to accommodate leaves falling later in the season. Street Department crews will begin leaf collection on November 4.

“This important neighborhood service is something we hear from residents about every year. One comment we’ve heard, as weather patterns change, is that residents wish we could push the schedule back,” said Mayor Tom Henry. “This year, we are pushing the schedule back and beginning the collection process in November.”  

As always, each of the city’s 400 neighborhoods will have two passes with the last collection the week of December 20. The later start date will allow residents more time to rake leaves from trees that might fall later in the season, as the second neighborhood pass will not occur until December. 

“No two leaf seasons are the same. But after evaluating leaf pick-up for the last several years, we have decided a later start date is appropriate,” said Brian Shimkus, Street Department Superintendent. “Our crews are ready to go, and we hope residents will keep up with the online schedule and not miss their neighborhood’s collection day.”

For curbside leaf pick-up, residents should rake leaves to the curb or park strip in front of their home, but not in the street. Leaves should be in the pick-up area by Monday at 7 a.m. on the collection week for their neighborhood. 

Residents can access daily collection updates at cityoffortwayne.org/leaves. There they will find a neighborhood schedule updated daily, a collection map, and general leaf collection information. This daily update will begin on Friday, November 1. Residents can also call 427-2603 for daily updates. 

Residents with bagged leaves can call 311 to schedule a pick-up.  The bags should be placed at the curb for pick-up within two business days of the call to 311.  This option gives residents the flexibility of having leaves collected at their convenience. Bagged leaf collection will run through the end of 2019, weather permitting. 

In the spring, two weeks will be scheduled for additional bagged leaf collection.  Those dates will be announced in March of 2020.

 

Collection Guidelines

  • Rake leaves to the park strip by 7 a.m. on the first day of the week when crews will be in your area.
  • Don’t put leaves in your trash or recycling cart.
  • Don’t burn leaves. It’s a violation of City Code and can result in a fine.
  • Don’t place leaves in the street.
  • Don’t place leaves in or over storm drains.
  • For safety, and to assist motorists, parents should remind children to not play in leaf piles near the street. 

 

The 2019 Fort Wayne Leaf Pick-up schedule  

Nov. 4-8                South

Nov. 12-15            North

Nov. 18-22            Central

Dec.   2-6               South

Dec.   9-13             North

Dec.  16-20           Central

There will be no leaf collection on November 11 for Veterans Day or November 28-29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.