Valparaiso leaf crews reach Zone 4 as curbside pickup runs through Dec. 4

Valparaiso's curbside leaf crews were working in Zone 4 of the city's four collection zones as of 7 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, and loose-leaf pickup continues through Friday, Dec. 4, weather permitting, according to the city.

At 11:34 a.m. Wednesday, the city posted in its online Alert Center that crews had reached Zone 4, adding that "these Zones will rotate in numerical order." Its Yard Waste and Leaf Pickup page, updated Thursday morning, says crews "will rotate zones continuously" through the season. A separate brush and yard waste crew was working in Zone 3 as of 7 a.m. Thursday, that page says.

The season began Monday, Nov. 2, and its pace depends on rain, wind and temperature, the city said in its Oct. 22 announcement, which put City Services' average yearly haul at 11,000 cubic yards of leaves, about 2,200 tons. A gradual leaf drop lets crews keep a steady schedule, but when leaves fall all at once, collection can take longer, and neighborhoods with more trees also take extra time, the city said.

Find your zone

The city's interactive Public Works Service Area Lookup map shows each address's leaf and yard waste zone along with its trash and recycling schedule, and the city's page tells residents to type in the address with "Valparaiso, IN" included. The map's data lists Zone 1 as the area with Monday trash collection, Zone 2 Tuesday, Zone 3 Wednesday and Zone 4 Thursday. Residents can sign up for text or email progress alerts through the city's Notify Me page at ci.valparaiso.in.us/list.aspx.

Crews work 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and hours may run longer, including weekends, as needed, the city said.

How to set out leaves

The city asks residents to follow these rules so crews can collect:

• Rake leaves to the curb area in the public right-of-way, not into the street. The city says leaves in the street can block drainage and cause flooding, and putting them there violates city ordinance.
• Keep piles to leaves only, with no rocks, sticks, bricks, boards, garbage or other debris, which crews cannot collect.
• Keep piles away from parked cars, mailboxes and other obstructions.
• Vacuum trucks do not pick up loose leaves in alleys. For alley pickup, bag the leaves in biodegradable bags, and separate trucks will collect them.
• Bagged leaves go in biodegradable paper bags at the curb, or residents can take them to the Valparaiso Compost Site, 2150 W. Lincolnway.

After Dec. 4

When loose-leaf season ends, residents should bag leaves in biodegradable bags, which brush trucks will pick up, the city says. From December through March, curbside brush and yard waste pickup is by appointment only through Customer Service and is completed within five business days. Bagged grass clippings go to the compost site in biodegradable bags or, for curbside service, into the trash tote, the city says.

Questions go to Valparaiso City Services Customer Service at 219-462-6174.