Branch & Leaf Pickup

Branch Pickup

The Cedar Lake Public Works Department collects tree branches starting on the first business day of each month from April through October 1st, weather permitting. Branch pickups will be completed within the first 5 to 10 business days of the month. Please have branches ready and out by the street, not in the street, before the first business day of each month to ensure your branches get picked up.

Residents are welcome to dispose of branches at the Public Works Department, Monday through Friday from 7a.m. to 3 p.m. as well as on the 3rd Saturday of each month, January through December that Public Works is open (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.).

If you’d like to dispose of your branches at Public Works, please stop in the Public Works main office presenting photo identification (driver’s license or a State issued photo ID) and/or a Cedar Lake utility bill that is issued from the Town (this is necessary in the event that one owns a property in town but whose driver’s license states otherwise).

The branch pickup service is for residents who have performed regular maintenance on their trees, on their property, and have small to medium sized piles. Branch piles will be picked up at the discretion of the Public Works.

If a resident uses a tree trimming service, it must be licensed within the town and branch piles will be picked up at the discretion of the Public Works. This service allows residents an appropriate way to dispose of green waste; it is not intended to supplement or compete with private contractors.

Branch Collection Guidelines

  • For safety reasons, branches must be at least 48 inches in length. Anything shorter is considered yard waste and should be cut up and disposed of in your regular, weekly trash collection
  • The Town’s chipping equipment can safely process branches up to 8 inches in diameter.
  • Grass, bricks, stones, metal objects, stumps or branches larger than 8 inches in diameter should not be placed in branch piles. These materials can damage the chipping equipment, which could result in injury to a Town employee. Such branch piles will be bypassed and will receive a door hanger if any improper items are noticed.
  • Please do not mix leaves, yard waste, and branches together.
  • Please do not bundle branches or place them in containers or bags.
  • Do not place branches by mailboxes, waterways, drainage, or utility poles.
  • Calling when yard work is completed is not necessary.
  • Public Works has a regular route starting at one end of town and continuing to the other end of town until the entire Town is picked up/serviced.

Leaf Pickup

Leaf vac trucks will be out each week for the duration of leaf pick-up season, which starts the first week of November and ends around mid-December, weather permitting.

Leaf piles must be no more than 6 feet from the street (due to the length of the vac truck hose) and without blocking any waterways or storm drains.

Residents are welcome to dispose of leaves at the Public Works Department, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on the 3rd Saturday of each month that Public Works is open, January through December.

If you dispose of your leaves at Public Works, please stop in the main office first presenting photo identification (driver’s license or a State issued photo ID) and/or a Cedar Lake utility bill that is issued from the Town (this is necessary for the event that one owns property in town but whose driver’s license states otherwise).

If leaves are brought in any container other than a brown yard waste bag, leaves must be dumped into the yard waste collection; leaves in brown paper yard waste bags may be left.

Leaf Collection Guidelines:

    • Place the leaf piles along the curbside within six (6) feet of the street.
    • Do not park vehicles within ten (10) feet of the leaf pile.
    • Do not block waterways or drainage.
    • Do not mix leaves with yard waste, branches, stones, or branches; leaf piles will be bypassed if any improper items are noticed.
    • If you wish to bag leaves, use brown yard waste bags; we will not pick up leaves in any other container.
    • Calling when yard work is completed is not necessary.
    • Public Works has a regular route starting at one end of town and continuing to the other end of town until the entire town is picked up/serviced; the department will then start their route over again.
    • Do not place leaves by mailboxes, trees, and power line guide wires or utility poles.

Collected and chipped branches produces free mulch for our residents!

Call Public Works beforehand to ensure there’s mulch available at the Department; we can help you load your truck or trailer!

Visit anytime during our regular business hours and please stop in the office first.

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