Leaf Collection Starts Tuesday Nov 5

The City of Missoula will begin fall leaf pickup on Tuesday, Nov. 5, starting in the downtown Special District #1.

The schedule starts in older neighborhoods with mature trees and the highest volume of leaves with the expectation that Street Maintenance Division crews can return to those neighborhoods at the end of the season if weather permits.

Leaf collection will visit Area 1, on the north side of the city, Nov. 6-8 and Nov. 12-13, then move to central Missoula south of the river and throughout the city through Dec. 6. When leaf collection is disrupted by snow, crews make every attempt to travel back through the neighborhoods. The

printed version of this year’s leaf collection flyer was inserted in Wednesday’s Missoulian newspaper. See it on the City of Missoula website, along with other useful information.

Photo by lecates via FLICKR

Photo by lecates via FLICKR

Leaf collection benefits everyone by removing leaves and recycling them at Eko Compost. The program has four main goals: 1) keep city streets clean; 2) help save space at the local landfill; 3) save residents the cost and hassle of bagging leaves; and 4) further Missoula’s recycling efforts by helping turn leaves into compost for local use.

City crews depend on citizens to make leaf collection work.

•    Please rake leaves to the curbs but not out into the bike lanes or driving lanes. Make piles long and narrow.

•    When parking, please allow room for Street Division crews to get to leaf piles with loaders and trucks. Leaf collection is followed by street sweeping as weather permits. See the flyer for parking instructions during sweeping.

•    Leaves only, please. Debris and limbs delays leaf pickup and can damage equipment.

•    Trees must be pruned to a minimum of 14 feet over the street to the inside edge of the curb line. If your trees do not meet this requirement, they may have to be trimmed by City crews to complete leaf collection.

After the annual leaf collection program ends Dec. 6, Street Division crews will continue to collect leaves intermittently until the first snowfall. If you miss your neighborhood’s scheduled pickup time, please call the Street Maintenance Division at 552-6360 to be placed on a list for another collection time.

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