MUSCATINE, Iowa – Spring leaf collection will last just one week and there will be just one round of curbside collection from Muscatine residences in April according to the Department of Public Works (DPW). Residents are urged to gather their unwanted leaves curbside no later than April 2 for the curbside collection event set for April 3-7.
“We are asking residents who want the City of Muscatine to collect their left-over leaves to have them raked to the curb by April 2,” Tyson Wedekind, Roadway Maintenance Supervisor, said. “We will be making just one round through each zone this year.”
Only one leaf vacuum truck will be sent out during the week. That truck will start in Zone 1 Monday and continue making one round through all zones. The primary collection effort will end when Zone 8 is completed.
“Due to the constraints of staffing and the number of projects that are or will be underway this spring, we decided to have just one round of collection,” Wedekind said. “Therefore it is important for residents who want to utilize this opportunity to have their leaves raked and ready to pick up by April 2.”
Residents who miss the collection can utilize their left-over leaves for mulch, place them in a compost pile on the resident’s property, or place them into City of Muscatine leaf bags. Residents can place the bags curbside for collection by the Solid Waste Division on their regular refuse collection day, or transport the bags to the Compost Facility at the Muscatine Transfer Station. City of Muscatine leaf bags are available at the Muscatine Transfer Station, and at Hy-Vee and Fareway.
Wedekind also said that DPW will not be taking any calls for leaf collection this spring.
General guidelines for leaf pickup:
- Leaves should be placed near but not beyond the curb, and should be within reach of the leaf vacuum. Leaves should be free of tree branches and twigs as they can cause the leaf vacuums to clog up.
- All leaves must be placed outside of fenced areas.
- Leaves are not to be placed in the street to avoid clogging storm drains.
- Leaves should not be placed in street or extend into traffic lanes, thereby creating traffic hazards.
- Leaves should not be placed around obstacles such as mailbox posts, sign posts and light poles.
- Crews will not pick up leaves mixed with debris, logs, branches, rocks, plastic, metal or glass containers, or any other types of refuse.
- Leaves should not be placed on City cul-de-sacs, vacant land, or City property except on the public right-of-way along the curb/shoulder area.
