I wouldn’t characterize this is an inevitable reduction in service because of suburbia. Almost no one was happy with the leaf vacuum program, although there were multiple reasons behind the dissatisfaction. The City has actually increased service by changing yard waste pickup from every two weeks to every week, year round.
Just as Raleigh was one of the last medium-sized cities to require garbage bins at the curb instead of city employees walking up your driveways to collect your garbage bags, Raleigh is also one of the last medium-sized cities to run a leaf vacuum program. Yes, leaves do come from trees and trees do grow on lots where there is room for them… meaning mainly the single-family and duplex properties around the City. But thankfully for the environment, the City came up with a solution that doesn’t encourage residential property owners to cut their trees down. It is the City of Oaks, after all.