The City of Missoula’s Street Maintenance & Operations Division crews will begin fall leaf pickup on Monday, Nov. 7, which is one week later than the date shown in previously distributed flyers. The division decided to delay collection by a week because fewer leaves have fallen at this point compared to previous years. So, the entire leaf collection schedule has been pushed back by one week and should wrap up on Dec. 2, weather permitting.
Crews will start in the neighborhoods north of the Clark Fork River during the first week (Area 1 on the map linked below). Those neighborhoods include the Rattlesnake Valley and Grant Creek, along with most of the north side of downtown and the West Side and North Side areas. Crews then move to central Missoula south of the river (Area 2) and throughout the city through Dec. 2. Please see the entire schedule and collection area map on the City’s website at www.ci.missoula.mt.us/504/Leaf-Collection.
The schedule starts in older neighborhoods with mature trees and the highest volume of leaves with the expectation that crews can return to those neighborhoods at the end of the season if weather permits.
For residents who don’t want to wait for their collection date, who miss their collection date, or whose trees drop more leaves after their collection date, they are invited to take their leaves to Garden City Compost at no charge. This is for leaves only. Loads with branches and other tree or yard debris will be charged regular prices. Please see Garden City’s web page at www.ci.missoula.mt.us/2089/Garden-City-Compost or call 406-552-6619 for more details.
For additional ideas about what to do with all those leaves, visit www.ci.missoula.mt.us/2339/Everyday-Opportunities.
City crews depend on citizens to make leaf collection work.
- Please rake leaves to the curb in the parking lane but not out into the bike lane or driving lane. If there is not a parking lane, please rake leaves to the curb but use no more than half of the bike lane. Make piles long and narrow.
- Ensure leaves do not block any stormwater inlets, especially if it's raining or snowing as the stormwater will not be able to filter through the leaves to reach the storm drain.
- Please complete raking before your pickup week starts. Crews may visit your street on the first day. They will then move on through the area.
- When parking, please allow room for Streets Division crews to get to leaf piles with front-end loaders and trucks. See the Leaf Collection web page for parking instructions in Special Districts during leaf collection.
- Leaves only, please. Debris and limbs delay 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.
- Leaf collection is followed by street sweeping, as weather permits.
Leaf collection benefits everyone by removing leaves and recycling them at Garden City Compost, the City’s compost operation. The program has five main goals: 1) Keep city streets clean, 2) Prevent leaves from clogging storm drains, 3) Help save space at the local landfill, 4) Save residents the hassle of bagging leaves, and 5) Further Missoula’s recycling efforts by helping turn leaves into compost.
Residents who miss their neighborhood’s scheduled pickup time can call the Street Operations & Maintenance Division at 406-552-6360 to be placed on a list for another collection time, as weather permits and after all areas are completed.
Original source can be found here.
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