The Rocky Mount Public Works Department's spring loose leaf collection started this week and will run through the end of March.

Residents can rake leaves and pine straw into piles behind the curb or onto the shoulder of the road. Officials said participants should have the piles ready on the Monday morning of their collection week.

Crews will alternate from the north side of town to the south side of town every week. Collection along the city’s south route will be during the week of March 11 and March 25 with the north route collected during the week of March 18.

Loose leaf piles must be free of trash, sticks, limbs, bottles, cans and other debris since the leaves and pine straw will be processed into clean mulch and compost. Piles with debris in them will not be collected.