Vacuum Leaf Pickup FAQs
Tell me about the Vacuum Leaf Service.
Really Clean Streets is honored to be running the vacuum leaf collection program for Henrico County this year. Our goal is to create a world-class municipal leaf collection program that exceeds the expectation of our residents.
We’re responsible only for loose leaf pickup (information on Henrico’s bagged leaf program can be found here).
The program is on-demand - residents book an order online and pay the $30 fee by credit card.
Our biggest focus is to pick up your leaves more quickly (within 10 business days weather permitting) and we’ve made some changes to the program to facilitate that:
We’re moving to an online ordering system (but if you need assistance placing an order, feel free to give us a call).
We’re only booking a week in advance to ensure we can deliver on our quick leaf pickup promise - if you place your order by Friday at 3pm, you’ll be scheduled for pickup the following week.
The pickup fee remains $30 and is paid when you book your order by credit card (vs. the charge being applied to your water/sewer bill).
Unlike past years, we will be taking orders and picking up leaves throughout the entire season – from November through February.
How is the program different from past years?
Orders placed by Friday at 3pm will be scheduled for pickup the following week (weather permitting). We’ll make every attempt to pickup your leaves in a timely manner and during your scheduled week. There are a limited number of pickups each week so make sure to book early in the week if you can!
When will my leaves get picked up?
Can I request a specific day or week for pickup?
Our vacuum trucks will be covering all of Henrico County each week – navigating weather, leaf volume fluctuations and weekly resident orders. As a result, we cannot guarantee a specific day for your pickup. But we’ll make every attempt to pickup your leaves in a timely manner and during your scheduled week.
Can I schedule more than one pickup this season?
Yes, you can place as many orders for vacuum leaf pickups as you need this season.
How do I get my leaves ready for pickup?
Please rake your leaves to the curb or property line (but not in the street or gutter).
If your neighborhood has ditches, place your leaves on the ROADSIDE of the ditch (but not in the ditch).
To ensure our vacuum trucks can remove your leaves, make sure they’re accessible from the street and at least 15 ft from parked cars.
We ask that your loose leaves do not block traffic lanes, parking, or storm sewers. County ordinances restrict the placement of leaves in these locations. Placement in these locations obstructs stormwater drainage, which degrades water quality and facilitates flooding. Leaves in our streams and waterways contribute to stormwater pollution, as they often contain dirt, debris, and pet waste.
Keep leaf piles away from signposts, light poles, trees and mailboxes.
Unfortunately, we cannot take leaves that contain trash, sticks, rocks or other debris because they can damage our equipment. If your leaves contain these items, we will be unable to remove them and your leaf pickup fee will not be refunded.
Our program is for loose leaves only. To inquire about Henrico County’s bagged leaf program, call (804) 727-8770. Leave a message if they don’t answer…they’re super responsive. Or, you can click here for info on the county website.
Can my leaves be in bags?
Are pine needles and pine cones eligible for pickup?
Yes, pine needles and pine cones can be picked up by our leaf vacuum trucks.
If you’re concerned that your leaf piles will blow away before we arrive, you can cover them with a tarp. Please don’t wet the leaves.
Will my leaves blow away?
What happens if I don’t have my leaves ready when your crew arrives?
You must have your leaves ready and at your property line by Sunday evening before your pickup week. Unfortunately, we can’t refund pickup fees if your leaves aren’t ready when our operators arrive, so make sure your leaves are at the curb the Sunday evening before your scheduled pickup week.
One of the biggest factors that determines how smoothly a municipal leaf collection program goes is the one thing we can’t control…weather. Our team can work in the rain - just not heavy rain. And if leaf piles are wet and then freeze - or there’s a significant amount of snow - it’s near impossible for us to vacuum. We’ll try our best to push the limits on what we can do in bad weather and promise to communicate if your order is impacted. We appreciate your patience!
What does “weather permitting” mean?
Absolutely. As long as your leaf pile contains leaves from your address only - we’ll take whatever you can give us. However, if leaves from multiple addresses have been combined into one order, our crew won’t take them - and we’d hate for you to miss your scheduled pickup! If your neighborhood collects leaves in a central location (i.e. a cul-de-sac), have your neighbors give us a call to book their orders and we’ll make a note that all your leaves are in the same pile.
My pile of leaves is REALLY BIG. Will you still pick it up?
How do I pay?
Our online booking platform is a secure, quick and easy way to place your order and pay via credit card (the charge will appear on your statement as “Really Clean Streets”). After booking your order, you’ll receive an email confirmation (make sure to check your spam folder!) with details about your scheduled pickup week.
What is your refund policy?
To keep our crews working efficiently, we are unable to refund pickup fees if your leaves aren’t ready when they arrive, if they can’t access your leaves from the street or if your leaves contain trash, sticks, rocks or other debris.
What’s your cancellation policy?
To ensure we meet our 10-day pickup goal, orders cannot be cancelled once the’ve been placed.