Fall Leaf
Cleanup

The city started the fall leaf collection project to protect the storm drains. If drains plug with leaves and then freeze, it could be problematic once the weather warms and it starts to thaw. The leaf cleanup is strictly to clean up the leaves from the streets. Brush piles may not be put in the street at any time, as it is an encroachment violation. For several years the crews collected an average of 400 tons of leaves. The last few years the figure jumped to over 900 tons and sometimes the project was not completed because of the weather.

The crews work simultaneously in the core area as well as the subdivisions. To find out when we will be in your area click on one of the links below. Because we have such a small window of opportunity for leaf collection, please read the information for each area to find out the best way to prepare to have your leaves collected.

Please keep in mind the completion of this project is contingent on the weather as the crews that work the leaf collection are also the crews that plow the streets. If winter sets in the leaves in the street will be left until spring.  Please note that starting with the 2008 fall leaf cleanup project all bagged leaves need to be in compostable bags .Leaves in plastic bags will not be picked up. Compostable bags can be purchased at hardware and garden supply stores.

We have been asked on many occasions why we start the fall cleanup on the south side of town. As you can see by the pictures below, the trees on the south side of town loose their leaves first. These photos were taken October 23, 2006.

North Bozeman	South Wilson

Core Area: The storm drains in this area are smaller and more prone to freezing, some are 100 years old. The Street Department crew comes into this area with tractors, loaders, dump trucks & street sweepers to collect the leaves. Anyone that stops to watch this process would think that it was a carefully choreographed routine. The crews have been doing this area for so long it runs like clockwork, it is very impressive. The residents can rake their leaves into the street or if they choose to bag the leaves, that is acceptable, just keep in mind the bagged leaves will be left until after the street pickup project has been completed. Cooperation with not parking on the streets that have been signed for street maintenance is appreciated; tickets will be issued for parking violations in the signed areas. Once the signs have been removed parking in that area can resume.

Subdivisions: The storm drains in these areas are newer and most of the trees are younger than in the core area of the city, because of this the residents are asked to bag their leaves and put them on the boulevard. Please note that starting with the 2008 fall leaf cleanup project all bagged leaves need to be in compostable bags, any leaves in plastic bags will not be picked up. Compostable bags can be purchased at hardware and garden supply stores. The Forestry Department, which normally maintains over 12,000 trees along the boulevards, parks and the cemetery, will then go into these areas and pick up the bagged leaves. Because the street crews will be using the heavy equipment in the core area of the city they will not be available to come into the subdivisions to get leaves that have been raked into the street. There will be no street maintenance signs installed in these areas.

If you have any questions regarding this project please feel free to contact the City Shops at 582-3200.