Raking News: Leaf Collection in April

The city will vacuum leaves from neighborhood curbs from April 6-17 in five collection areas throughout Rockville.

An interactive map at www.rockvillemd.gov/leafcollection allows residents to input their address and learn when their leaves will be collected. Unlike the fall leaf collection, which has two collection rounds, city crews make only one pass to collect leaves in spring.

Rake leaves next to, but out of, roadways, gutters and bike lanes, and away from parked vehicles. Leaves should be raked by 6 a.m. on the first day of their collection period, but no earlier than one week before the collection dates to avoid grass damage or fire hazards. Remove sticks and other objects from leaf piles. Avoid parking near leaf piles or other vehicles.

After the collection period ends, use biodegradable paper lawn bags or 32-gallon trash cans (without plastic garbage bags) to set leaves out on your refuse and recycling collection day. Use alternative disposal methods such as mulching or composting. Do not dump leaves, grass clippings or other yard waste into storm drains, along stream banks or directly into streams, where they can cause blockages that contribute to localized flooding or release nutrients that lead to fish kills.