A revolutionary new era in leaf pickup arrives in Cedar Rapids

The city will launch its new loose-leaf vacuum collection service on Monday, Oct. 5 for city solid waste/recycling customers.

The service features a few major changes:

The city has 10 new vacuum trucks to suck the leaves up. The trucks will come by every week through mid-December on the day of a customer's regular garbage collection. And customers should keep leaves by the curb – preferably in long rows and not piles and free of brush and branches – and, most importantly, OUT OF THE STREET.  In prior years, customers raked leaves into the street for pickup by city end loaders.

Any cars parked on the street in front of the leaves will prevent the leaves from being collected.

Customers also can continue to use Yardy carts for leaves as well as for brush and branches, and they also can use brown paper bags for leaves.