Village of Shorewood Hills
Department of Public Works

Leaf Picker

The Village's Leaf Picker is a 2002 Old Dominion Brush Company brand model 600LT.   It creates 17 foot-pounds of suction (in other words it can suck a basket ball through the grate or lift a manhole cover off of the ground).
The Leaf Picker in action.

The Village Crew starts picking leaves on the east side of the Village and works their way to the west hitting every street, then they start all over again.  They can usually complete the leaf collection for the entire Village in a week, except during the peak season when it can take up to 10 days.

How should my leaves be piled at the curb?  In long, thin rows (less than 4 feet wide) on the edge of the roadway but not in the road.  Keep the piles at least 5 feet from obstructions like mailboxes, trees or telephone poles.  Click here to see some examples of Good (and Bad) leaf pile placements.

What material can be picked up by the leaf picker?  "Leafy" material.  Try to limit the amount of twigs and sticks in the leaf piles.  Woody material won't hurt the picker but sticks longer than a 15" or thicker than 1/2" can plug up the intake shoot.

When is the Leaf Picker in operation?  In the spring after the snow has melted through the first week in May (give or take).  And, in the fall the Crew begins to pick leaves in October and continues until the leaves are frozen to the ground.

Why haven't my leaves been picked up?  There are a number of reasons the Crew may have "skipped" your leaf pile.  They can't pick up leaves if the piles are blocked by parked cars or other obstacles.  They only do one side of the street at a time.  The leaf box might be full or the truck needs fuel.  It could be lunch or quitting time.  Or, the leaf picker may have broken down.  Please be patient, they will get to your leaves as soon as possible.

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