As the trees begin to turn colors, the City Street Department is preparing for its seasonal leaf collection. While the full-on leaf pickup has not begun yet, the street department has already started collecting some of the first few piles of leaves around the city neighborhoods.

Street crews began driving around the city Monday collecting the first small piles of leaves of the season. This is more of a “test run” for the Street Department to check its gear, but residents who already have leaves are encouraged to rake theirs to the curb in front of their home.

The crews will drive around the city collecting leaves. For those who were not able to rake their leaves to the curb this week, the street department will continue onto its full-on leaf collection until the first snowfall of the season.

For those who may have yard waste beyond collection weeks, the Environmental Center, located the intersection of Indiana Avenue and C.R. 19, is free to Goshen residents and open 52 weeks a year. From April through November, their hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon; and from December through March their hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Environmental Center is closed on Sunday and holidays. The Center accepts brush, leaves (loose or in a bag), at no charge for Goshen residents. If the leaves are bagged, the bags must be emptied.