Leaf pickup underway in Noblesville

The Noblesville Street Department is in the process of its annual leaf pickup program. There are two methods that residents may use to dispose of leaves: 1) Placing leaves in free, biodegradable bags; and 2) Raking loose leaves to the grass area next to the curb without placing leaves in the street.

“The bagged leaf method is the quickest method of pickup since bagged leaves are collected weekly,” Noblesville Street Commissioner Patty Johnson said. “If residents choose to pile loose leaves, they should remain on the edge of their property and not be in the street as this causes issues for motorists and obstructs the roadway.”

There can be a waiting period of up to three weeks between loose leaf pickups because street crews make a continuous circuit of the city with the leaf vacuums and street sweepers. Bagged leaves will be picked up on the same day as residents’ regular trash day but not necessarily the same time since leaves are collected by the street department and not Republic Services. Please make sure that leaves are only bagged in biodegradable or compost bags and are placed separately from trash containers. Residents may set out as many biodegradable bags as necessary.

“Bags or loose leaves with brush, grass, litter, and/or other debris will not be picked up, as this will damage equipment. Both bagged and loose leaves are recycled into compost,” Johnson said.

Biodegradable bags are available free of charge to Noblesville residents at all Noblesville fire stations, City Hall (16 S. 10th St.), Noblesville Street Department (1575 Pleasant St.) and the Hamilton County Household Hazardous Waste Center (1717 Pleasant St.).

The street department will continue to pick up leaves as weather permits. Residents are strongly encouraged to bag their leaves after Dec. 14 because loose leaves run the risk of freezing, which then makes them unable to be picked up by the leaf machines. If residents have loose leaves for pickup after Dec. 14, they will need to contact the street department and provide their address.

For more information about the leaf program, contact the Noblesville Street Department at (317) 776-6348.