With rain in the forecast, it will be important for Ripon residents to place their discarded Christmas trees and other loose trimmings and leaves away from the curbside gutters.

The reason for that is to allow for the water runoff, according to the City of Ripon website (www.cityofripon.org).

The City’s free annual pickup is offered through Jan. 7.

The guidelines include:                        

• Palm tree cuttings will not be accepted.
• No other solid waste of any kind shall not be deposited among the clippings or leaves.
• Branches should be no more than four feet long or six inches in diameter.
• No tree stumps will be accepted.
• Do not bag or tie the trimmings.

Staff noted that it will not be necessary for residents to call City Hall to arrange for pickup service.

Rather, public works will be conducting pickups each week while checking the neighborhoods around town.

The routes, in this case, are not set so if they miss a pickup in one neighborhood, they’ll do so the following week.