Fall Leaves

Mowing over leaves to mulch them back into your lawn is a great option for reducing waste. Mulching not only returns vital nutrients to the soil, but experts say that it can help your grass grow even better the following year!

Never blow leaves into the street! If you see Street Sweeping signs posted on your street, please make sure to move your vehicle so any leaves that fell naturally on the street can be properly cleaned.
ALSO: MSD asks if you see a catch basin covered in front of your home or near by please collect them/clear it! That will assist in proper drainage.

Leaf Drop-Off Sites

The Metro Public Works free leaf drop-off sites will be open Tuesday-Saturdays through December 9. Drop-off will not be available on November 23 and 24 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Only leaves will be accepted. Leaves can be loose, in paper/compostable bags, or reusable containers. Containers used to bring leaves to the drop-off sites must be taken back by residents.

Locations and hours:

• Public Works Yard, 10500 Lower River Road (enter from Bethany Lane)

Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Public Works East District Operations Center, 595 N Hubbards Lane

Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Shawnee Park, 230 Southwestern Parkway (Athletic Complex)

Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Waste Reduction Center, 636 Meriwether Avenue

Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Mayor Craig Greenberg, joined by members of the Metro Snow Team and partners from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Louisville Fire, the National Weather Service and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) outlined preparations for the upcoming 2023-24 snow season.

The Snow Team is led by Metro Public Works under the leadership of Director Jennifer Caummisar-Kern and Assistant Director for Roads and Operations Mike Nolan. The Public Works Solid Waste Management and Signs & Markings Divisions, Metro Parks, the Department of Codes & Regulations’ Vacant Lots Division and the Department of Fleet Services are also part of the team.

Louisville will begin the snow season this year with 38,000 tons of salt on hand, which is about average for the beginning of most winters for Louisville Metro. Most of the salt is stored underground in the Louisville Mega Cavern, while about 17,500 tons are stored at four above- ground locations where the salt will be loaded onto spreading vehicles as needed. In the 2022-23 snow season, Metro snow fighters responded to seven significant wintry weather events, using about 16,000 tons of salt on Metro’s snow routes.

The city will pretreat roads with brine ahead of snowfalls when appropriate. Brine is a saltwater solution that reduces the adherence of snow and ice to pavement and reduces slick spots.

City snow routes include arterial and collector roads, bus routes and roads to major employers and emergency facilities for a total of 2,734 two-lane miles. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and private contractors also clear routes in the city.

The city’s snow removal progress can be followed via an interactive online map. During snow events, a snow map will be posted on the city website, www.louisvilleky.gov

State “snow fighter” highway crews are equipped, ready and waiting for winter in Kentucky. While supplies and staff are equipped, drivers are reminded to join the effort to keep roadways safe. 

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) crews are restocked with:

• Over 1 million gallons of salt brine
• 1 million gallons of calcium chloride
• 340,000 tons of salt

More than 1,400 plow trucks are on deck and more than 2,000 staff and crew members are trained and prepped to keep travelers moving.

KYTC uses a four-tier system to prioritize treatment and snow clearing on state-maintained routes. Route designations are based on factors such as traffic volume and connectivity to critical services like hospitals.

During routine snow and ice events, crews operate using snow and ice priority route maps for maximum equipment and materials usage efficiency. The cabinet has established a snow emergency plan for severe winter storm events to deploy resources within each county to cover the highest priority routes.

Kentucky’s fleet of snow-clearing vehicles includes twelve tow plows in different parts of the state. Tow plows have a trailer-mounted rear plow that swings out, like a jackknife. It allows one driver to clear two driving lanes in one pass. KYTC maintains most roads, streets and bridges that are part of the State Highway System, including interstates, parkways, and U.S. route designations.

Visit snowky.ky.gov for snow and ice resources, like priority route maps, tips and highway district updates