Leaf vacuum hitting Oregon's city streets on trial basis until Dec. 24

OREGON – Oregon residents who are still battling leaves have received an early Christmas present from city officials.

The city’s public works department has rented a leaf vacuum and will suck up leaves until Dec. 24, provided they are raked to the curb.

“One of the services that citizens have requested is residential curb-side leaf collection,” said City Manager Darin DeHaan. “We are making a trial run at this as a consideration of permanently adding this service to Oregon going forward.”

DeHaan said leaves must be raked to the curb in order to be picked up.

“Please make sure vehicles remain clear from in front of the leaf piles where you can,” he said.

DeHaan told city commissioners Tuesday that the leaves will be taken to a nearby farm to be used as compost.

“We found a farmer to accept them near Mt. Morris,” said DeHaan, who announced the leaf vacuum option on social media Monday. “I’ve had nothing but positive feedback.”

DeHaan said city officials are seeing how the machinery works and will decide if it is something that should be offered each year.

Oregon has been designated as a Tree City USA and has a substantial number of mature trees. Residents currently bag leaves and then place those bags along the curb where they are picked up by city workers.

DeHaan said the vacuum option, which started Monday, looks promising, with the city either purchasing its own vacuum unit or renting one each year.

“I definitely feel this may be the way to go,” he said. “I think this would be a good program going forward.”

Mt. Morris and Forreston use a vacuum device to collect fallen leaves within the city limits.

Oregon officially became a Tree City USA in April. Tree City USA was created by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1976, according to ArborDay.org. A community can receive annual Tree City recognition by meeting four standards, which include: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per resident on urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day on the last Friday of April.

For more information about the tree program or leaf collection, call city hall at 815-732-6321 or visit https://cityoforegon.org/.