When fall leaves tumble to the ground, yard work piles up – but the city of Ames is working to make the burden as painless as possible.

Clare Bills, public relations officer for the city of Ames, said the last two Saturdays in October and the first two Saturdays in November have been designated as free leaf disposal days. Ames residents may take their grass and leaves to the yard waste site at 2101 Watt St. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on each of the days.

“On dates other than the free days, there is a charge that varies with the load size,” said Gary Edwards, leaf relief worker for the city landfill. “A small pickup will cost $7.50, a full-size truck is $15 and a car normally runs about $6.50 for the load.”

Edwards said the landfill is very busy on the free disposal days.

“We have residents lined up clear down Dayton and 13th Street,” he said.

This fall, the city also decided to distinguish Oct. 20 as a free disposal of brush day. The city usually offers this day only in the spring, Edwards said.

“The city decides on these days,” he said. “Actually, when it comes down to it, the taxpayers of Ames pay for these days.”

He recommended residents separate their brush from the bags of leaves on this day.

“We use the leaves for covering the dirt in our landfill, so we don’t run it through the chipper, and the brush we do run through the chipper,” he said. “So it just makes it easier for us.”

When the free disposal days are over, Ames residents may come to the landfill and pick up some leaves to use as mulch in their yards and garden, Edwards said.

For more information about the free disposal days, residents should call 232-5864.

Another option offered to Ames residents is a Leaf Relief service. Carolyn Starr, principle clerk for public works operations, said the cost of the service is a $40 flat fee per visit.

“We have the homeowner rake the leaves into a parking area, make an appointment with us and then we come and sweep the debris away,” she said.

A crew disposes of the leaves with a giant vacuum truck, Starr said. The leaves are shredded and used as a soil mulch on other city property. Participants are billed for this service after the leaves are picked up. Starr said brochures with information about the services are available at the city warehouse.

She said the city is divided into four different areas – the leaf relief crew is in the southeast area on Mondays, the southwest area on Tuesdays, the northeast area on Wednesdays and the northwest area on Thursdays.

“We make appointments for people as to when the crew will be in their area,” Starr said. “We normally don’t make appointments on Fridays, because we try to use the day as a catch-up day.”

The service will end on Nov. 16, she said. Starr said there are some regulations for the service.

“We only offer this service for one- or two-family dwellings,” she said. “We don’t offer it to apartments.”

For more information about the leaf relief program, residents may call 239-5550.

If a citizen doesn’t have a leaf shredder, a lawn mower can be used to break down leaves for use as mulch in a garden or in a compost pile.

The city of Ames doesn’t allow for residents to burn leaves, Bills said. This ordinance was passed by the city council three years ago for health reasons.

“The city decided to pass the ordinance in concern of those with asthmatic problems, emphysema or allergies to smoke,” she said. “It is actually a very common city ordinance.”

Paul Sandoval, deputy fire chief for the Ames Fire Department, said the department will fine people that do not obey this ordinance.

“We typically warn people the first time when we are aware of them burning leaves, but we do fine repeat offenders,” he said.

“The fine for burning within the city limits is $500 for the first offense and $750 for the second offense.”