To burn or to bag leaves — rules vary in Dundee Township
The battle of fallen leaves is on. They are pretty on the trees, but when they fall to the ground, they pose a challenge.
This year those little red, yellow and orange challenges may be more of a question for some Dundee Township residents who will decide whether they should burn or bag the leaves.
West Dundee residents are reminded to stay away from the matches. Village leaders will not let property owners burn them, but public works crews will take them away if residents do not feel like bagging them.
During this time of year the crew drives a leaf vacuum truck through the neighborhoods, said Kim Tibbetts, a village employee.
“The driver tries to make a pass through every street at least once a week,” she said. “We do not have designated days for the neighborhoods, so we can’t promise when we will be there; but we will be on every street at least once a week.”
Only leaves will be picked up by the truck. West Dundee residents cannot put sticks or other yard waste by the curb. Those property owners who like to handle autumn’s treasures with their hands can still place them in bags so the village’s waste hauler will take them on garbage day.
Decades ago, West Dundee village trustees outlawed the burning of leaves because the smoke the fires cause is unhealthy and bothers residents’ breathing ailments such as asthma.
East Dundee village trustees considered doing the same, but they do not have a leaf collection truck and some residents complained about the cost of paper bags for the leaves.
As a compromise, East Dundee trustees allow their residents to burn leaves on the second and fourth Saturdays of October, November and April. The fires must be contained to between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
They also should be watched and not started on windy days, said East Dundee Fire Chief Steve Schmitendorf.
“Residents should be aware of weather conditions before they start any fire,” he said. “The wind can easily blow burning debris onto a nearby building or property.”
West Dundee residents have until Nov. 26, or the last day of yard waste collection, to decide how to get rid of their leaves. East Dundee and Gilberts residents have until Nov. 30 when their waste hauler stops collecting yard waste.
In Gilberts, residents can burn their leaves and yard waste on Sunday and Wednesday all year, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sleepy Hollow restricts leaf burning to the months of September, October and November, although yard waste may be burned year-round. Burning is permitted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the second and fourth weekends of the month.
“Rake ‘em and bag ‘em” is the rule in Carpentersville, which does not allow leaf burning.