Leaf collection in the City of Niles will begin tentatively on Monday, Oct. 28, according to the city’s Department of Public Works.

The street department will begin collecting one ward at a time, beginning with the second ward and moving to the third, fourth and, finally, first ward.

The city rotates where it will begin collection annually.

Last year the program started in the first ward.

The street department crews have set the following rules for leaf collection:
• Rake leaves to the back of the curb and not onto the pavement. Leaves raked into the street can cause flooding problems, create a safety hazard, and hamper snow removal operations in the event of early snowfall.
• Leaves mixed with brush, limbs, trash, ashes, or other debris will not be picked up.
• Leaves must be raked out in advance of the leaf vacuums. Leaves raked out afterwards will not be picked up.
• Move vehicles to off-street locations when crews are in the neighborhood. Cars parked in the street slow the collection process and force the crews to leave behind piles not accessible by the equipment.
• Do not cover water meter castings in the boulevard area. This prevents meter readers from taking actual readings and requires them to estimate water usage.

Crews will go around the City of Niles at least three complete times, weather permitting.

The city recommends that residents rake out as many leaves as possible in advance of the first pick up, since the second and third times around may be halted or delayed by bad weather.

Normally, crews work 10 hours per day, Monday through Saturday.

The goal is to complete the entire program prior to Dec. 15.

If early winter weather shuts down the collection program, the city may schedule a spring leaf collection program.

If that happens, an announcement in the Niles Daily Star and the South Bend Tribune would be released.

Residents are advised to assume there will be no spring program unless there is an official announcement by the Department of Public Works.

If residents are not able to rake leaves out in time to be picked up by the city, they can take leaves to the Southeast Berrien County Landfill, 1540 Mayflower Rd. Buchanan.