The city’s annual fall leaf recycling program kicked off last week and will continue until Dec. 20. This is a great opportunity to get rid of fall leaves in an environmentally-friendly way.

During the seven-week program, residents can drop off bagged leaves at 13 locations across the city on some Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. West Philadelphia residents can drop off bagged leaves on Nov. 22, Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 at the following locations:

• N. 43rd St. and Powelton Ave.

• N. 54th St. and Woodbine Ave.

• 4300 Chester Ave. (Clark Park)

• S. 52nd St. and Pine St. (Malcolm X Park)

Before dropping off the leaves, please place them in large brown biodegradable paper bags. Please don’t mix trash or other recyclable materials with bagged leaves. Yard waste including brush and tree limbs will not be accepted.

In addition to bagged leaf collections, the city is also performing mechanical leaf collection in some areas with heavy leaf accumulation. Mechanical leaf collection in West Philadelphia began on Monday and will continue through this Friday, Nov. 14.

The Department of Sanitation takes collected leaves to the Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center for composing. The city’s Leaf Recycling Program helps reduce waste that goes to landfill. Please note that bagged leaves left curbside will not be recycled and will be picked up as trash.