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<br />December 22, 2008 <br />CONTACT: <br />Damon Joyner, Public Works Maintenance Supervisor, 541-682-4835 <br />From Public Information Section, 682-5523 or 954-2938 <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br />Second Round of Leaf Collection Rescheduled Following Winter Storm <br /> The second and final round of leaf collection in Eugene is now scheduled to begin <br />Wednesday, Dec. 31, in west Eugene. <br />The second round of leaf collection includes unimproved streets, which typically do not <br />have curbs, gutters and sidewalks. During the first round of collection, Public Works crews <br />concentrate on improved streets to ensure that major routes and bike lanes are kept clean. <br />After a street has been picked up in the second round, no more leaves are allowed to be <br />piled in the street. As always, property owners who choose to place leaves in the street are <br />responsible for keeping bike lanes open and passable, catch basins clear, and sticks, branches <br />and other debris out of leaf piles. <br />The collection schedule was pushed back more than a week as leaf program crews were <br />reassigned to emergency snow and ice duties following a major winter storm the week of Dec. 15. <br />The storm continues to have lingering effects on street maintenance operations. Currently <br />three of the City’s four street sweepers are concentrating on picking up the remainder of the more <br />than 1,000 cubic yards of sand spread on the streets for traction during the storm. This means <br />that for the next several weeks the sweepers will not be following close behind the leaf collection <br />crews, which will likely mean some leaf debris remains on the streets until the sweepers can catch <br />up. <br />The final schedule for the second round of leaf collection is still being worked out. <br />Collection areas will be in the following order: west Eugene, central Eugene, north Eugene, <br />southeast Eugene, and southwest Eugene <br />Each year, the Eugene Public Works Department collects more than 15,000 cubic yards of <br />leaves in an effort to keep leaves from plugging the storm drainage system and degrading water <br />quality in local streams. Here are some additional tips for managing leaves: <br /> Pile leaves well away from catch basins. If a catch basin does plug, scrape the leaves <br />away from the grate. Be careful working in standing water. <br /> Consider using leaves as compost or mulch rather than piling them in the street. <br /> Remove leaves from sidewalks. Wet, slippery leaves are a hazard to pedestrians. <br /> Avoid putting leaves in bike lanes. Leaf piles that obstruct bike lanes are a hazard to <br />cyclists. <br /> For the latest schedule information, call Eugene’s leaf program hotline at 682-5383, or visit <br />the web at www.eugene-or.gov/leaf. <br /> To report flooding problems or obstructed bike lanes, call Eugene Public Works <br />Maintenance at 682-4800. <br /> Leaf delivery forms are available on the web or by calling 682-4800. <br /># # # <br />