DPW urges residents to bag leaves to reduce disruption to their neighborhoods
Syracuse, N.Y. – The transition from fall to winter in the City of Syracuse is setting in. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced the Department of Public Works will launch its overnight shift for the late fall and winter months beginning on the night of Sunday, November 6. Crews who are on duty to plow streets in the event of early morning snowfall will be deployed to pick up leaves on city streets.
“We can expect any kind of weather in Syracuse this time of year. We know our DPW must be prepared for early morning snowstorms, so this overnight staffing is essential,” said Mayor Walsh. “But when there’s no snow, it’s a smart use of resources to have these crews supplement our leaf collection efforts.”
The City provides leaf pick-up as a service to residents in the months of November and December. It occurs during both the daytime and on overnights. Leaf pick-up vehicles are equipped with audible beeps for safety, and some units can create scraping and banging noises when picking up loose leaves and branches.
“We apologize for the overnight disruptions that occur when crews come to pick up leaves,” said Mayor Walsh. “As we work to get all the leaves up, we want to remind residents they can help reduce the amount of beeping and banging on their street by bagging their leaves. Putting leaves in bags allows our crews to pick them up quickly and quietly, without having to back vehicles up over and over to scrape up loose leaves.”
Residents are urged to place all leaves in paper bags and to never put leaves in the roadway. Leaves must be placed between the sidewalk and curb and must be separate from all other waste. Leaves cannot block fire hydrants, poles, trees, vents or catch basins.
“Leaves in the roadway is also one of the biggest causes of flooding in many of our neighborhoods in fall and winter. They block catch basins, fill our underground sewer mains constricting water flow and can subject some properties to sewer backups,” said Mayor Walsh. “The best thing residents can do to help themselves and their neighbors during this time is to put their leaves in paper bags and out of the roadway.”
Residents can also use the City of Syracuse yard waste drop-off site located at 1200 Canal Street Extension. The site is on the access road to the DPW complex, accessible from South Midler Avenue between Interstate 690 and Erie Boulevard. Residents can drop off brush, branches, and leaves. Plastic bags are not permitted. It operates from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
