The Claw is back in Sacramento. Here’s when leaf collection will hit your neighborhood
Got leaves? The Claw is back in Sacramento.
The city Recycling and Solid Waste Division uses a special tractor fitted with an articulating bucket to scoop up leaves, small branches and other yard waste around the City of Trees.
The Claw is a familiar sight in Sacramento during the fall and winter months.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Claw, from its schedule to how to prepare leaf piles:
When will the Claw come to my Sacramento neighborhood?
The Claw started patrolling residential Sacramento streets and picking up leaf piles on Monday, Nov. 4, according to a city news release.
The special yard waste collection service continues through Feb. 3, 2025.
Is there a schedule for yard waste collection?
There is no set schedule, but the Claw does travel through the Sacramento neighborhoods “systematically,” city spokeswoman Jesa David told The Sacramento Bee in 2023.
You can check the collection calendar on the city’s website to see your next leaf season collection date.
“The calendar is updated daily during the week, so we encourage residents to check it regularly to see when their next collection is,” David said in the release. “As we start to see rainier weather and heavier leaf piles, the time between collections may be longer.”
Can anyone use this service?
“Not all city residents receive leaf season service,” the city of Sacramento said.
Residents who live on private streets and those who don’t have curbs or gutters don’t qualify for a visit from the Claw.
Residents who live in apartment buildings of five units or more aren’t considered city customers and aren’t permitted to put out leaf piles. Neither are commercial properties.
How big can leaf piles be?
There’s a size limit for leaf piles.
Each household’s leaf pile should not be larger than 4 feet by 4 feet by 9 feet, the city said.
You should place your pile at least 6 feet away from cars, boats, basketball hoops and other obstructions and make sure there’s space between the curb and pile to allow water to flow to storm drains.
The city asks residents to avoid blocking bike lanes with piles when possible.
Should I put my leaf pile in a garbage bag?
No, leaf piles don’t belong in plastic bags.
“No organic waste or recycling should ever be put in plastic bags,” the city said.
What can I throw away besides leaves?
You should fill your curbside container before making a pile, the city said.
In addition to leaves, you can toss tree limbs in your pile — provided they’ve been cut to 3 feet or less in length and are no more than 4 inches in diameter.
You can also put Christmas trees in your leaf pile, as long as you remove any plastic, glass or metal decor first.
However, the city says you should avoid including any food waste or pet waste with your pile.
Vegetable peels, table scraps and other food waste go in the organics container instead, and you should throw away dog poop and cat litter in the garbage container.
For more information, go to SacLeafSmart.org.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 2:39 PM.
