Leaves to be collected next week

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Marion County residents with leaves piling up will be able to get rid of them soon.

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works will begin picking up leaves Monday, Nov. 5.

Residents can have up to 40 bags of leaves picked up each week for free. Leaf pickup will run through Nov. 30. Last year, the city collected more than 7,600 tons of leaves. Indianapolis uses the leaves for compost, which is made available to residents.

Residents interested in leaf pickup are asked to follow the following guidelines:

• Place leaves in plastic or large paper lawn-waste bags. Please close and seal the bags.
• Place leaf bags out by 7 a.m. on your regular trash day.
• Clearly identify and separate bags of leaves from regular trash. Place them on opposite sides of the driveway, in different colored bags or use different color tie wraps.
• In 96-gallon cart collection areas, all leaves must be bagged and placed at least three feet away from the cart to allow DPW trucks to service the cart. Additionally, all trash must fit inside the cart. Trash outside the cart will not be taken during leaf collection season. Residents also should ensure that sewer inlets and drainage pipes are kept clear of leaves and debris to avoid drainage and flooding problems.