DeKalb lawns are being invaded from above. Every year, millions of deceased cellular forms descend to the dismay of local homeowners. The invaders? Leaves.

Do not despair, citizens, the city of DeKalb is coming to the rescue. The department of public works will start its annual leaf removal program Monday.

Crews will pick up loose leaves using large machines that work on “the same principle as a vacuum cleaner,” said John Conlin, superintendent of the Street Department.

The machines have suction tubes which workers will use to suck up leaves along the curb. Piles of leaves should be placed on residents’ parkway just behind the street curb. The piles must be free of foreign materials such as sticks, tree limbs and rocks. Conlin said such objects can get stuck in the machines and “slow down the process.”

Citizens concerned with the environment may wish to take advantage of a new option for leaf disposal. This year will be the first DeKalb has offered recycling as an option for leaf disposal.

The city will use the parking lots of all DeKalb public schools as drop-off sites for leaves to be used in recycling. Tan collection containers will be marked “DeKalb County Recycling.” Leaves can also be taken to the DeKalb County Recycling Center, 129 Simonds Ave..

DeKalb is divided into five sections for the leaf removal program. Work crews will collect loose leaves from designated sections of DeKalb on certain dates. Conlin said local newspapers and radio stations will be told on Thursdays what section will be targeted by the leaf removal program for pick-up the following Monday. Bagged leaves will be collected on usual garbage collection days.

Sections one and five are scheduled for pickup next week. Section one is the Central Southern area of DeKalb. It is bordered to the north by Lincoln Highway, to the east by Cotton Avenue, to the south by Taylor Street and to the west by Annie Glidden Road.

Section five is bordered to the north by Greenwood North, to the east by the East corporate limits, to the south by Lincoln Highway and to the west by North First Street to the Kishwaukee River.

Leaf removal on section 3, the Northwest/NIU area of DeKalb, and section 4, the Tilton Park/Hillcrest area, is scheduled for the week of Oct. 30.