Leaf, pumpkin pickup starts Monday

If you’re ready to get rid of those crumbling Halloween jack-o’-lanterns or make the first pass at scooping up the fall leaves, Chattanooga Public Works is ready to help.

The city will begin its fall leaf and pumpkin collection Monday, according to a news release from city spokeswoman Marissa Bell.

And for the first time, the city will be offering on-demand leaf pickup. City residents can call 311 or use the CHATT311 app to have a leaf truck sent to their address.

Residents also can drop off pumpkins at the five city recycling centers starting Monday and continuing through Nov. 17, the release stated.

Check www.chattanooga.gov/publicworks/city-wide-services/pw-recycling for locations and hours.

The city will start its annual fixedroute leaf collection Nov. 27. Look on the Interactive Service Map at chattanooga. gov for routes and collection times. That map also tracks recycling, trash pickup, ice and snow treatment and street sweeping, according to the release.

Here are some guidelines citizens should keep in mind for leaf collection:

› Separate loose leaves, bagged leaves, brush and bulky items. These materials are collected, processed and disposed of differently.

› Move loose leaves, bagged leaves, and brush as close to the curb as possible without placing them in the street or mixing the materials.

› Don’t rake leaves into ditches, storm drains, catch basins or curb inlets. Blocking those areas can mean dangerous driving conditions from wet leaves, flooding problems and damage to water quality.