Gainesville’s annual curbside leaf pickup is set to begin Oct. 6 and will run through Jan. 30.

During this time, leaves may be placed in piles along the curb and will be removed by vacuum machines.

For the purposes of leaf collection, the city has been split into two zones.

Zone 1 contains all portions of the city west of Thompson Bridge Road, Green Street and E.E. Butler.

Zone 2 contains all portions of the city east and north of Thompson Bridge Road, Green Street and E.E. Butler Parkway.

Leaf collection will alternate between the two zones, with zone 1 being served the first and third weeks of the month and zone 2 being served the second and fourth weeks of the month.

The city has asked that participating residents adhere to the following guidelines:

Do not place piles of leaves in or on the street. This creates a driving hazard and could result in an accident. Also, leaves placed on the street often are washed into the city’s storm sewer during rain and cause potential flooding problems for you or your neighbors.

Please place your leaves in long, narrow piles along the back of the curb. Please remove all trash, dirt, brush clippings, grass clippings, rocks, limbs or sticks longer than 6 inches. These sticks and other yard waste can damage mulching equipment, and piles containing these items will not be collected.

For more information, call the street maintenance division office at 770-532-0379.