OLEAN — Just because the leaves are falling doesn’t mean residents should push them into the street just yet.

The city of Olean Department of Public Works reported Tuesday that leaf collections are expected to begin Oct. 20, and residents may begin blowing or raking leaves into the road on the weekend of Oct. 18-19. Officials stressed that leaves are not to be placed in the roadway before that date as to not potentially clog curbside drains. The city’s monthly curbside collection of yard waste has ended for the year.

Only leaves are to be put in the street, and residents are asked to not add tree limbs, branches, ornamental grass, potted plants, or other plant matter to the piles to be collected. Collection will be done mechanically and loaded into dump trucks for removal.

The collection will begin in areas east of North and South Union Street to the Olean Creek and Allegheny River, followed by West Olean west of Union Street and south of West Sullivan Street; Areas north of West Sullivan Street including areas along Wayne Street, Coleman Street, and cross streets; North Olean; Boardmanville; South Olean; and East Olean.

Olean’s street sweeping restrictions remain in place through Oct. 15, so no tickets will be issued for parking on streets to be swept. However, the DPW asks the public to refrain from parking on streets anticipating collection to help with removal efforts.

A second round is being planned but may not occur due to weather. Leaf collection has tended to begin in early October, with a second pickup expected later in the month. However, sometimes second pickups have been canceled due to early snow like in 2019 when early snow left leaves in the street until the spring.