Hazelwood's Residential Free Fall Leaf Pickup Begins Oct. 21

Fall is here. It's one of the most beautiful times of year in the Midwest. Leaves begin to change to burnt orange, golden yellow and apple red. But just as quickly as the  leaves change, they fall off.

Luckily, City of Hazelwood residents don't have to worry about where to store raked leaves, the city will pick them up free. That's as long as you follow some simple tips and ensure they are at the curb on your street's designated pickup date. 

The City of Hazelwood begins its annual Fall Leaf Collection Program during the week of October 21.  

Two separate pick-ups are scheduled for every street, and the city's public works department said the dates provided are as accurate as can be considering weather and mechanical breakdowns can affect pickups.  

See the schedule in the picture section of the article for pickup dates, and to download.

City crews will collect leaves only. Be sure to follow these tips:

• Be sure to rake your leaves to the curb on the weekend before the scheduled week of your street's pick-up. Please do not rake leaves into the street because they can obstruct water runoff when it rains, causing huge puddles on your street.
• If you prefer to bag your leaves, you may do so but you must use bio-degradable bags. Bagged leaves will only be picked up on Monday of their designated pick-up week.
• City crews will collect leaves on each street one time during the scheduled collection week. Therefore, it is very important to have your leaves at the curb by Monday morning.
• Leaves will not be picked up if vehicles are parked in the street blocking access to the leaves. Call the Street Dept. at (314) 731-8701 when the vehicle has been moved during your scheduled week only.
• Do not put any brush, vines, grass clippings, trash, garbage, metal objects, garden waste, etc., in the leaves that are to be collected. This can cause serious injury to the crew and damage the machinery.