The City of Murfreesboro’s fall leaf collection season began on Saturday and will run through January 31, 2023. During this time, loose leaves can be piled curbside free of charge and will be picked up by the Murfreesboro Street and Solid Waste departments – collectively known as the city’s Public Works Department.

“As we have for years now, the goal is to cover the City twice as fast. As previously, the City will be divided in half by U.S. Highway 41 (Broad Street) with the Street Department serving residents on the north and east side of Broad and the Solid Waste Department servicing the south and west side,” Public Works Division Executive Director Raymond Hillis said in a statement.

The City of Murfreesboro is asking residents to follow the following guidelines when taking advantage of the free collection service to improve service and efficiencies for City crews and customers:

  • Do not combine large tree limbs and leaves; place leaves in separate piles parallel to the street.
  • Do not place yard trimmings and leaf collection in ditches around or on top of structures such as mailboxes, fences, meter lids, utility lines, utility poles, etc.
  • Do not place foreign debris such as lumber, household trash, and other types of debris in your leaf pile. It will not be picked up if found.
  • Do not set clippings or leaves in vacant lots or on vacant properties. This is illegal dumping
  • Do not place loose leaves under low-lying power lines and cable lines to allow room for the boom to work.
  • Do not park a vehicle near the leaf pile during daylight hours.

The Public Works Department advises those taking advantage of the free collection service this season to not cover or clog storm sewers with loose leaves or grass clippings due to the possibility of hampering the sewer system’s ability to convey storm water as well as adversely affecting water quality in streams and rivers.

Those who prefer to bag their leaves and grass clippings for free collection must use biodegradable paper bags. In addition, those who prefer to remove their own grass clippings, limbs, and brush rather than leave it curbside can utilize the Yard Waste Collection & Mulching Facility.

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Autumn Leaves” by Pixabay.