Oct. 31. Best to scuttle those weekend plans because it’s time to feed the leaf monster.

The town’s leaf collection trucks begin making rounds in Cornelius on Monday. If you miss the first pass, they will take multiple trips through neighborhoods until the end of January, but when they arrive is anyone’s guess. The town does not post a pickup schedule but truck locations can be tracked daily here.

Residents are not allowed to dump yard waste in trash collection boxes or burn leaves in Mecklenburg County. If you miss the leaf truck, Waste Pro will collect up to 20 clear bags of leaves per week.

Environmentalists caution lakeside residents not to blow or dump leaves into Lake Norman, as it can encourage algal blooms and harm bottom-dwelling wildlife. It can also cover potential hazards just below the water’s surface.