The City of Knoxville's annual "Leaf Season" begins this week. Public Service Department crews will be visiting the city's neighborhoods to vacuum leaves between now and February 2013.

Leaf collection season officially begins Nov. 1st and concludes Feb. 1st each year, although crews already have collected leaves during the brush collection cycles in October. During this period, the normal two-week brush schedule is suspended as resources are concentrated on collecting leaves. Collection schedules vary heavily during the season based on tree density, age and type; weather events; topography; and several other factors. Schedules are adjusted by managers in the field on a weekly basis.

Knoxville residents can find out when their leaves will be picked up by accessing the city's website at www.knoxvilletn.gov. The schedules are done on a weekly basis, dated Monday of the week when City crews will be in those neighborhoods. Further information is also available by calling 311.Call 3-1-1 to Find Out When Leaf Pickup is in Your Neighborhood

The city uses trucks equipped with suction devices to vacuum up leaves, which need to be raked to within 5 feet of the curb for pickup.

Please don't rake leaves into the street, and try not to block drainage ditches. Also, please don't mix brush in with leaf piles.

The city will not pick up mixed piles of leaves, brush, or other refuse because the leaf collection equipment is designed to vacuum up leaves and can be damaged by brush.

Brush collection will continue during November, December and January but it is done on a limited basis, as resources are available.

For more information about leaf collection season, including how the city handles bagged leaves, please go to www.knoxvilletn.gov/solidwaste.