MILWAUKEE — To say fall is a busy time for the Milwaukee Department of Public Works crews is an understatement.

Each autumn, they collect an average of 15,000 tons of leaves and yard debris from streets all across the city.

For the past 27 years, DPW driver-worker Bert Revels has been collecting leaves from residential streets on the city’s north side. From inside a trackless loader, Revels gets to see the sheer number of leaves that fall each autumn.

Revels said this is the time of year where he works overtime. He said it forms a fall-induced sense of camaraderie among his coworkers.

“You see so much of each other, you spend more time here than at home,” said Revels. “It’s extended hours. I am with my partner, with the boss. We work so closely together and see a lot of each other.”

DPW Sanitation Services Manager Rick Meyers oversees leaf collection. Meyers said it’s a big task on top of regularly scheduled trash and recycling collection. Meyers said after the debris is loaded on trucks, it is sent to compost.

“They go to a contractor that composts them and, along with yard waste from all over the region, turns it into various soil products they sell in bulk or bagged, products people can find at their local hardware stores,” explained Meyers.

Revels said most people who see DPW crews working are kind and grateful.

“Some of the residents, they are great people. They will come out and give you a soda or water,” said Revels.

However, Revels also said he has to be cautious of people who drive too fast near public works crews. That’s why he urges drivers to be careful when driving near crews that are working.

In addition, Meyers said taking simple steps, like pushing leaves a foot beyond the curb and avoiding parking near leaf piles, can make the job easier and more efficient for those tasked with clearing the leaves. ​

Milwaukee residents have until Nov. 15 to rake leaves into the street for collection.