There is a way to get rid of the leaf piles!
Here's how:
- Burn them (I was able to have my sim burn them even when it was raining slightly. Don't know about heavy rain). One caveat - there may be multiple piles in the same spot. If the pile doesn't disappear after it's burned, it's because there are more piles to burn.
- Turn on testing cheats (shift-ctrl-C to bring up the console, then type testingcheats true)
- Have your sim go home and shift-click on a garbage can to "Set as Head."
- Go back to the pile of ash, and now your sim can Throw Away the ash. If the ash pile doesn't disappear, it's probably because there are multiple piles in one spot. My sim had to "throw away" four times before it disappeared.
https://s22.postimg.cc/638kg4v9d/07-12-18_11-56-35_AM.png
- If you don't like the fashion statement of the sim wearing a trash can as a hat, then when your sim is back home, shift-click "Set as Head" again to detach.