Milwaukee residents: Rake your leaves into the street beginning Thursday, October 1st

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee residents may start raking leaves into the curb lanes starting Thursday, October 1st.

Department of Public Works (DPW) Sanitation crews will begin collecting the leaves on Monday, October 12. Leaf collection will end on Wednesday, November 25.

Leaves and brush, along with other yard waste, are banned from landfills and must not be placed in garbage or recycling carts. DPW collects leaves, brush and yard waste separately from garbage and composts it, which conserves natural resources while saving the City money. Residents are also encouraged to mulch leaves, and leave grass clippings on the lawn. This saves time and money, and adds nutrients to the soil.

Tips from the DPW for a successful fall leaf collection:

Sanitation staff collects an average of 15,000 tons of leaves each year between mid-October and the first week of December. Last year 15,360 tons of leaves were collected.