Murfreesboro, TN - Murfreesboro’s annual Fall Leaf Collection program officially kicks off this coming Monday (10/13/2025) and runs through January. During this peak season, residents can pile loose leaves curbside for pickup—no bagging required. The city encourages residents to watch a short informational video to better understand the process.

The heaviest leaf collection typically wraps up before Christmas, but crews will continue working into January to ensure all areas are covered.

To make the annual leaf collection process go smoothly, residents should follow these simple guidelines:  

• DO NOT combine large tree limbs and leaves, place leaves in separate piles parallel to the street.
• DO NOT place yard trimmings and leaf collection in ditches around or on top of structures such as mailboxes, fences, meter lids, utility lines, utility poles, etc.
• DO NOT place foreign debris such as lumber, household trash, and other types of debris in your leaf pile. It will not be picked up if found.
• DO NOT set clippings or leaves in vacant lots or on vacant properties. This is illegal dumping.
• DO NOT place loose leaves under low-lying power lines and cable lines to allow room for the boom to work.
• DO NOT park a vehicle near the leaf pile during daylight hours.

Public Works Executive Director Raymond Hillis explained that the city will be split by U.S. Highway 41 (Broad Street), with the Street Department handling the north and east sides and Solid Waste covering the south and west. The Street Department will deploy five vacuum trucks and a dozen crew members, while Solid Waste will operate seven boom trucks with raking crews.

Solid Waste Director Russell Gossett emphasized the importance of resident cooperation: “We appreciate the help of residents to make our annual Fall Leaf Collection go smoothly. Please place loose leaves where vacuums can easily reach them.”

While biodegradable paper bags are normally required for yard trimmings, loose leaves and grass clippings may be piled curbside during the peak season. However, residents are reminded not to block storm drains and to keep leaves separate from brush and debris, which can damage equipment and slow down collection.

Collected leaves are transported to the city’s mulch site. For those who prefer to handle their own yard waste, the drop-off facility at 4735 Florence Road is open weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

For more details, residents can contact Russell Gossett at 615-893-3681 or Raymond Hillis at 615-893-4380. Updated guidelines and ordinance changes are available at murfreesborotn.gov.