a. No later than April 20, 1989, each municipality in this State shall, by a duly adopted ordinance of its governing body, provide for a collection system for leaves generated from residential premises, prohibit the placement of leaves for collection or disposal as solid waste, and require that persons occupying residential premises within its municipal boundaries shall source separate leaves from solid waste generated at those premises and, unless leaves are stored or recycled for composting or mulching by the generator, place the leaves for collection in the manner provided by the ordinance.
b. As an alternative to the provisions of subsection a. of this section, a municipality may, by a duly adopted ordinance of its governing body, prohibit the placement of leaves for collection or disposal as solid waste, and specify that all persons occupying residential premises within its municipal boundaries shall mulch or compost the leaves generated at those premises.