What you need to know about annual leaf collection in Eugene, Springfield, Lane County

As fall leaves drop from trees and coat streets, sidewalks and yards across Lane County, local governments are preparing to kick off annual leaf collection programs.

Leaf collection efforts are designed to keep leaves out of drainage catch basins, grates and gutters to prevent flooding. Clearing slippery leaves also allows for safer travel on sidewalks and roads and improves water quality issues caused by decomposing leaves.

Leaves are the only items collected by crews. Piles with branches, pine needles, trash, grass and other lawn debris will not be picked up. Property owners are responsible for leaves that are placed improperly in the street or cause safety or flood hazards.

In Eugene and Lane County leaves must be piled in the roadway, not in bags, at least 15 feet from parked vehicles. In Springfield, leaves must be bagged curbside, not in the street.

Do not pile leaves in traffic lanes, bike lanes, on sidewalks or curbs. Keep storm drains and gutters clear to prevent flooding.

Wait to put leaves in the street until the weekend prior to collection.

Eugene leaf collection

For residents within the city of Eugene, leaf collection and delivery begin Monday. Initial pickups will focus on the central Eugene area before moving onto individual areas. Residents should pile leaves neatly in a row parallel to the curb.

Residents can look up when they are scheduled for collection, order leaf deliveries or report hazards such as leaves in a bike lane. via the city website.

A second round of leaf collection will begin on Jan. 2, and leaves should be piled in the street between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

For more information about Eugene’s leaf collection and delivery services, go to www.eugene-or.gov/leaf or call Eugene Public Works Maintenance at (541) 682-4800.

Springfield leaf collection

Leaf collection in Springfield begins Nov. 27 west of 28^th Street/31^st Street, before continuing Dec. 4 east of 28^th Street/31^st Street. A second round will begin Jan. 8 for the west side of Springfield and Jan. 15 for the east end of town.

Springfield residents are asked to bag leaves and place them curbside, not in the street, by 7 a.m. on Monday of the scheduled collection week. Not all bags will be collected first thing Monday, it may take several days and severe weather may cause delays.

Sanipac is contracted to pick up and haul leaves within city limits. Leaves must be put in medium-sized bags that contain only leaves. Bags containing other yard debris will not be collected.

For more information about leaf collection in Springfield, visit www.springfield-or.gov/leafpickup, call (541) 525-2658 or email leafpickupprogram@springfield-or.gov.

Lane County leaf collection

Lane County Public Works leaf collection begins Nov. 13. The county collects leaves in two general areas: Santa Clara north of the Beltline Highway and several locations just outside the city limits of Springfield.

Collection in Santa Clara west of River Road will be Nov. 13 through Nov. 16 and east of River Road Nov. 20 through Nov. 22. Springfield area pickups will be Nov. 27 through Nov. 30. A second round of pickups will begin back in the Santa Clara area on Dec. 4.

County crews may begin working in an area ahead of official collection dates if time allows. Crews will still return to the zone as scheduled.

County leaf pickup will be provided for paved curb-and-gutter streets only.

Lane County's leaf collection information line at (541) 682-8565 is updated at 5 p.m. Fridays to describe where leaf pickup begins on a weekly basis.

For more information about county leaf collection visit www.LaneCountyOR.gov/LeafPickUp, call (541) 682-6905 or email leafcollection@lanecountyor.gov.

Contact multimedia journalist Ben Lonergan at blonergan@registerguard.com or follow him on social media @lonerganphoto

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene, Springfield leaf collection: When to put leaves out