Philomath residents have four more chances this fall to have leaves hauled away from the curb for free.
Republic Services, which provides the service under contract with the city, will collect leaf piles on paved city streets Nov. 5 and again on Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17. The first pickup of the season took place Oct. 22.
Residents may put leaves out starting the weekend before each Thursday collection. For the Nov. 5 pickup, that means piles can go out this weekend.
The timing matters. Under city rules, leaves placed in the street at any time other than the week before a scheduled pickup are considered littering.
Piles should sit about a foot away from the curb so rainwater can still drain along the curb line. Only leaves are accepted. Trash, limbs, branches, grass clippings and other debris must stay out of the piles. Collection is limited to paved streets.
Residents who don’t want to wait for a scheduled pickup have other options. Loose leaves can be dropped off at no cost at the city’s public works compound. The drop site is for Philomath residents only, not commercial operations, and accepts leaves only. Sticks, branches, bags and trash are not allowed.
Leaves can also go in Republic Services yard debris carts. The city suggests that filling the cart every week is a steady way to work down a large pile between collection dates.