With the fall street cleanup underway in Winnipeg, officials are reminding homeowners to avoid the temptation to rake their leaves onto the road.

About 60 pieces of equipment will be sweeping the city's streets as part of the fall cleanup, which began Sunday night.

Ken Boyd, the city's manager of streets maintenance, says residents who are caught raking their leaves onto the streets can face fines of up to $150.

"They generally provide a warning if they catch somebody doing it," Boyd told CBC News on Monday.

"In most cases, people are not aware of that particular bylaw, and we try to use the educational approach. But if it's a repeat offender, they're subject to fines."

Boyd said huge piles of leaves on the streets can slow down cleaning crews and even cause street flooding if there is a lot of rain.

"If we get some cold temperatures, which tend to happen this time of year, that can turn into ice and cause us additional problems," he added.

Boyd said now that city crews are picking up leaves and other yard waste at the curb, he hopes fewer people will rake them onto the street.

BFI donates paper bags

But in recent weeks, some residents have complained of a shortage of paper bags that have been approved by the city for yard waste collection.

On Monday, Charleswood-Tuxedo Coun. Paula Havixbeck said BFI Canada is donating six pallets of paper leaf bags.

Havixbeck said she will hand out the donated bags to residents on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Anyone who needs the paper bags can pick them up at the Tuxedo Community Centre at 368 Southport Blvd. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings this week from 5 to 8 p.m.