Autumn sure leaves us with a lot of waste.

In the spirit of end-of-the-year yard cleaning, we’re giving you the dos and don’ts on leaf disposal, as well as some pro tips on what to do with those rotten pumpkins.

✅ Collect your leaves in plastic trash bags.

From now until Fri., Dec. 3, you can dispose of 40 bags of leaves per week by leaving them at your curb with your regular trash. Simply get them on the street by 7 a.m. on your trash collection day.

DYK: The South Side Landfill will turn the collected leaves into mulch in the spring, which will be available at no cost to residents.

✅ Mow your leaves.

Mowing over leaves to mulch them back into the earth is a great way to reduce waste + return nutrients to the soil, making your grass greener the following year.

❌ Refrain from collecting them in paper bags.

Though it may seem more eco-friendly + places like Menards have handy paper leaf bags, these are not recommended because they quickly deteriorate in wet weather. You don’t want all your hard work to melt away.

❌ Don’t blow your leaves into the street.

The leaves often get stuck in storm drain inlets, leading to poor drainage + flooding problems.

❌ Don’t burn your leaves.

This activity is actually illegal in Marion County, as it releases harmful particles in the air.

Pumpkin to consider… At this time of year, we’re seeing jack o’-lanterns die a slow death on many porches across Indy. Here are some sustainable ways to get rid of your gourds.

Dry out the seeds + give them to the birds for tasty treat
Plant the seeds for future pumpkins
Cut the gourds into bite-sized pieces for bigger critters
Compost them to give back to the earth

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