NORWICH — The City of Norwich began their fall leaf and yard waste pickup on Monday, October 28, and will continue to pick up curbside leaves, twigs, and branches until November 18.

City residents can gather up fallen leaves, twigs, branches, and grass clippings between the curb and sidewalk to be picked up by city Department of Public Works (DPW) employees. All items left for collection must be light enough for one person to lift to shoulder height.

According to the City of Norwich, brush and branches must be bundled together with string, twine, or rope – no wire – and must be no longer than six feet in length. Additionally, the largest diameter of individual branches must be no larger than four inches.

Beginning this year, the city is requiring all leaves, grass clippings, and twigs to be collected by DPW to be put in paper or biodegradable bags only. No non-biodegradable plastic bags or cardboard boxes will be collected.

"As of last year the council decided that we need to head in that direction for environmental reasons, obviously, but also it’s so much easier for our employees. They don’t have to rip open the plastic bags for every bag to dump the leaves," said City of Norwich Mayor Brian Doliver. "It’s so much easier and faster. They have a pile and they can just dump those bags, and they just biodegrade themselves, without having to rip open all the plastic."