In Valparaiso, the city says an unusually severe early winter has forced Valparaiso City Services to adjust its traditional leaf collection operations, but crews remain committed to removing remaining leaves through alternative methods and continued service into the spring. Officials say Valparaiso City Services had to suspend leaf vacuum operations due to persistent snow, rain, and freezing temperatures that made it unsafe to operate the equipment without risking permanent damage.
Valparaiso also got more than 21 inches of snow – more than five times the seasonal average – during the 45-day leaf collection window, sharply limiting the number of days crews could safely operate. On Monday January 5, 2026, the city announced Valparaiso City Services (VCS) was currently identifying areas with significant leaf accumulation and will deploy loaders and dump trucks to remove accessible piles where conditions allow. Vacuum trucks will return in the spring to collect remaining leaves, as they have in the past.
“While our traditional vacuum equipment cannot be used in these conditions, Valparaiso City Services has not stopped working to address remaining leaves,” said Steve Poulos, Executive Director of Valparaiso City Services. “This has been an extraordinary year and our teams are adapting to the circumstances to continue serving residents.” Despite the weather challenges, VCS successfully collected approximately 76% of the city’s typical annual leaf volume. A large portion of leaves fell after the first major snow event on November 9, which alone dropped
nearly 10 inches of snow. As a result, crews lost nearly 15 collection days due to snow cover, ice and the need to focus on keeping streets safe for travel, a news release said.
“Certainly the weather has not cooperated with the leaf season,” said Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas. “However, we thank Valparaiso City Services for their efforts so far and applaud their innovation and determination in finding alternative ways to complete this work.” Here’s a link to the City of Valparaiso website for more information about other off-season options that are also available.
