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 with leaves, in front of your home or near by please collect them/clear the basin! That will assist in proper drainage and helps everyone.*

Leaf Drop-Off Sites (coming soon!) 

The Metro Public Works free leaf drop-off sites will be open Tuesday-Saturdays, now through December 7. Drop-off will not be available on November 28 and 29 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. and

• Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

This service is for residents ONLY and not for businesses!!

Louisville Free Public Library and the Louisville Orchestra are pleased to announce the fourth season of the collaborative project “Once Upon An Orchestra.”  The complete schedule is listed below.

Presented free, each branch will host one of six different, unique family programs that weave music and storytelling together in an interactive experience. Louisville Orchestra musicians perform original music created around familiar and beloved children’s books. The hour-long experiences include a 30-minute small ensemble performance preceded by a hands-on activity to build a musical instrument from recycled materials, so everyone can play along.

For “Once Upon An Orchestra,” composers from the LO Creators Corps have developed original musical scores to accompany a number of beloved children’s books, including Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In addition, this year’s series features two new composition – Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson.

The musically enhanced storytelling leans into one of the key programs of the LFPL, the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge. This Library program encourages all families and caregivers to read at least 1000 books with their preschool-age children to build the vocabulary and language skills needed for success in school.

Co-presented by the Louisville Orchestra and the Louisville Free Public Library, “Once Upon An Orchestra” is funded with support from Louisville Metro Government. For more information, including the complete schedule, please visit LFPL.org/orchestra, contact your local LFPL branch, or call the Louisville Orchestra at (502) 587-8681.

District 18 and local area locations:

Thursday, November 7                  6:30 PM        N.E. Regional Library    If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Saturday, February 8                     2:00 PM       St. Matthews Library      The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Saturday, March 29                        10:30 AM    Jeffersontown Library     Bunny's Book Club

*For the complete schedule of event dates and locations go to the website listed above!*

In celebration and appreciation of military heroes, the Louisville Zoo, in partnership with Kroger, is offering free admission to all active and retired military personnel and their immediate families on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11. Military guests are simply required to present proof of service at the Zoo’s admission windows.

Acceptable forms of identification include a U.S Uniformed Services ID Card, Retired ID Card, current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), veterans organization card (such as American Legion or VFW), a photo in uniform, wearing a uniform in-person, DD214 or citation/commendation. Immediate family includes individuals living in the same household.

Along with free admission, military personnel and their families can enjoy exclusive discounts on Veterans Day, including 10 percent off purchases at the Zoo gift shop and 50 percent off food and drink at Zoo concessions.

“We are grateful to all military veterans for their service,” said Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney. “We look forward to welcoming you and your families to the Zoo on this special day of recognition and appreciation.”

Active military members receive free admission to the Zoo year-round, and their dependents receive 10 percent off general admission when accompanied by active military personnel with a valid ID. Military guests are encouraged to check with the leisure travel offices at their bases in advance of their visit for other available discounts.

Backyard composting is a great way to reduce the amount of food waste going to the landfill and it's rewarding for your garden beds! 

Choose a location that can be easily reached with plenty of space. Start adding your food scraps and yard waste. "Green" materials provide nitrogen and "brown" materials provide carbon. For every one part "green" materials, add two parts "brown" materials. Turning your compost adds oxygen and heat comes naturally with the proper mix of ingredients. Your compost is ready to use when it has a uniform black color, a clean smell, and no identifiable pieces!

The kNOw Waste Louisville Education Department offers Earth Machine Compost Bins and accessories at wholesale costs. If you aren't sure how to start or if you need a compost coach, contact us!