SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The city of trees is becoming the city of leaves as fall gets underway, and Sacramento is bringing back a familiar piece of equipment to help clean up neighborhood streets.
Known as “The Claw,” the tractor, equipped with a claw on its nose, is returning to scoop up piles of fallen leaves and tree branches across the city. The claw works alongside a rear-loading truck that quickly collects those piles of yard debris.
The claw’s seasonal rounds officially began Monday. City officials say residents need to follow the guidelines below to make sure their leaves get picked up:
Fill your green waste bin entirely before creating a pile on the streetKeep leaf piles away from storm drains and bike lanes whenever possibleDo not include pet wasteKeep piles within the maximum size of 4 ft. by 4 ft. by 9 ft.Make sure piles are clear of obstructions, including parked cars and containers. If The Claw cannot reach a pile, it will not be collected.
Residents who plan to use the leaf collection service should check the city’s collection calendar to find out when pickup is scheduled for their neighborhood. The leaf season schedule is updated daily.
The claw is expected to make its way through roughly 100 Sacramento neighborhoods between now and the end of January.
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