In November and December each year, Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) Leaf Day service helps make streets cleaner and safer, keep storm drains clear and keep intersections from flooding. Leaf Day pick up is free for residents in Leaf Zones. There is no need to opt in or out.
Everyone in a Leaf Zone should have received a brochure in the mail by mid-October with directions on finding pick up date(s). In SE Portland, Leaf Day Pickup 1 starts as early as Thursday, November 12 and Leaf Day Pickup 2 is complete by Saturday, December 19. Many neighborhoods are broken into multiple Leaf Zones with different pickup dates. Double-check pickup dates with your exact address. There are three areas that will have only one Leaf Day Pickup. Regardless of whether you live in an area that has one or two pickups, make sure to check the schedule for your address at portland.gov/transportation/maintenance/leaf-day so that you don’t miss it.
Additionally, PBOT sends out weekly reminders of Leaf Day. Opt in to receive reminders via email or text.
One day before your Leaf Day, rake loose leaves you want picked up into the street. Gather only loose tree leaves. Pine and fir needles from evergreen street trees are ok. Yard debris should be placed in the green compost bin, not in the street. This includes twigs, branches, pinecones, grass clippings and other yard debris.
Keep one foot of space between your pile and the curb for storm runoff and to make it easier for PBOT’s sweepers. Also allow plenty of clearance between your pile and any vehicle left parked on the street.
Make sure to trim any low-hanging tree limbs over the street so equipment can get as close to the curb as possible and provide the best clean. Trees should be trimmed to allow for 11 feet of clearance.
Move vehicles and other objects off the street. Leaf Zones are small enough that people should never have to travel more than a quarter mile to park a vehicle outside the boundaries of a zone. Whenever possible, allow plenty of clearance between your pile and anything left parked on the street.
Check in with your neighbors so everyone remembers to move their vehicles off the street on Leaf Day. People may be working from home or have other reasons their vehicles are parked on the street for extended times. The fewer obstacles on the street, the better job crews can do of cleaning the street.
What happens to all those leaves that are picked up? They’re hauled to PBOT’s Sunderland Yard for composting. That compost is available for purchase at the Buy Compost page, portland.gov/transportation/maintenance/buy-compost-and-gravel.
Photo by PBOT.
