GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) – After jumping through piles of leaves with your kids, get those piles out of your yard for free.

Starting today, the City of Grand Junction begins its annual leaf removal program, expecting to pick up over 10,000 cubic yards of leaves in the season ahead.

According to the city's site, you can just rake your leaves to the street, and city crews will pick them up. They say keep the piles 18 inches away from the curb to allow water to flow down the gutters and to keep leaves from blowing back on to the sidewalks during collection.

If you don't have a curb and gutter, just rake them to the pavement in front of your residence.

Crews will start pick up today and continue through mid-December.

Otherwise, you can take your leaves to the Mesa County Compost Facility year round for free.