Residential Leaf Collection

From October through December, City crews operate leaf vacuum trucks and collect paper leaf bags throughout the City. Residents who receive City trash collection services will receive three passes during the season. Residents may rake their leaves to the curb or place leaves into paper leaf bags and set them curbside for collection. Leaf bags are collected on your regular trash collection day.

Page updated on Jan 11, 2017 at 2:28 PM

Update; Leaf Vacuuming & Leaf Bag Collection Completed

Both leaf vacuuming and leaf bag collection have been completed for the 2016 season.  Residents should place remaining leaves in paper yard waste  bags or hard-sided containers for collection as yard waste.  Bags or containers should be placed next to your regular trash can for collection.


What's New?

  • In FY 2016, the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) installed Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) systems in nearly all vehicles in the operations fleet, including refuse collection trucks, street sweepers and leaf trucks, among others. AVL is a GPS vehicle tracking system that provides City staff with real-time view of where equipment is allocated, how it is being used, and it’s status. By utilizing AVL, the City can more effectively manage resources to improve performance and productivity.

    New this leaf season, AVL for leaf trucks is available on the interactive Leaf Collection Zone Finder that will allow customers to view the real-time status of leaf collection operations from their homes, including truck location and status.

Three Ways to Recycle Your Leaves

1) Leaf Vacuuming

Leaf crews collect leaves raked to the front curb with a vacuum truck. Weather permitting; City crews make three passes through each neighborhood zone. 

How to Prepare 

  • Rake leaves out the day before your assigned collection dates (check online for a weekly updated schedule or sign up for T&ES' Resource Recovery E-News  to get weekly updates by e-mail). 
  • Rake leaves into piles at the curb. This enables crews to move more quickly and efficiently. 
  • Remove stones, litter, branches or other debris. These items can damage our equipment and hurt workers. 
  • Avoid placing leaves in front of storm drains or on water meter covers. 
  • Move parked cars off leaf piles. 
  • Do not rake leaves into alleys or service roads.  

2) Leaf Bag Collection

The City provides paper bags for leaf collection. These bags are available at numerous City facilities during the collection season and are free of charge (see locations below). Bags are collected at the front curb on your regular trash collection day 

How to Prepare 

  • Place paper bags at the front curb, on your regular trash collection day.  Only use paper bags.  Leaves in plastic bags are considered refuse, and will be thrown away as trash at the Covanta Energy-from-Waste plant. 
  • Remove dirt, stones, litter and other debris from leaves before placing in bags. 

 Free City leaf bags are available October 24, 2016 at the following locations: 
 **Limit 15 bags per residential household, not available for commercial use** 

  • City Hall, 301 King Street
    Monday - Friday, 7 am - 8 pm  
  • Field Office, City of Alexandria, 2900 A Business Center Drive
    Monday - Saturday, 8 am - 5 pm  
  • Charles Barrett Recreation Center, 1115 Martha Custis Drive
    Monday - Friday, 2 pm - 6 pm  
  • Chinquapin Recreation Center, 3210 King Street
    Monday-Thursday, 6 am-9 pm
    Friday, 6 am-6 pm
    Saturday & Sunday, 8am - 6 pm
  • William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Avenue
    Monday - Friday, 9 am - 9 pm
    Saturday, 9 am - 11 pm
    Sunday, 1 pm- 5 pm  
  • Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue
    Monday - Friday, 9 am - 9 pm
    Saturday, 9 am - 6 pm  

3) Compost Leaves & Yard Waste in Your Backyard

Composting at home is an easy way to take advantage of the environment's natural recycling process, which creates valuable organic supplements, and can be done right in your own backyard.  Learn more about Backyard Composting and view our "How to Compost 101" video.   

Leaf Collection Zone Map

2015 Leaf Collection Zone Map image
Click to enlarge

Leaf Season Information & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When and how are leaves picked up?
From October through December, City crews operate leaf vacuum trucks and collect paper leaf bags throughout the City.  Residents who receive City trash collection services will receive three passes during the season.  Residents are responsible for raking their leaves to the curb or placing leaves into paper leaf bags and placing them curbside for collection.  Leaf bags are collected on your regular trash collection day.  

How do I know when my leaves are scheduled to be vacuumed? 
A schedule is mailed to residents and posted on-line in October.  The City is divided into five collection zones, and City staff vacuums leaves in each zone three times.  An up-to-date schedule is posted above.  To determine your assigned zone, use the Zone Finder feature on the City's website or refer to the brochure (a copy is located on-line). 

If the vacuuming schedule changes, how will I be informed? 
If the vacuuming schedule is changed, a new schedule is announced on the City's website, on the Leaf Hotline, by an eNews update every Friday, on the T&ES Facebook page, and by calling a City customer service representative.  See the listing at the bottom of this page. 

Why does Zone 5 (Old Town) have subzones? 
Zone 5 (Old Town) has been divided into four subzones to make its service more consistent with the rest of the City.  The leaf collection program delivers three passes for each zone.  This was not the case for Zone 5 in the past.  With the introduction of subzones, residents of Zone 5 will have scheduled dates for each of their three passes. 

Where are leaf crews, why aren't they picking up my leaves?
Sometimes crews drop behind schedule due to bad weather or equipment problems.    

Where do I rake or take my leaves?
Leaves should be raked to the curb or placed in paper leaf bags for collection.  Avoid gutters and storm drains, and do not rake leaves into alleys or service roads.  

If I am unable to rake the leaves from my yard, will City staff rake them for me?   
Residents are responsible for raking leaves to the curb or placing them curbside in paper bags.  Commercial landscaping companies are widely available to rake leaves for a fee.  The City does not arrange for such services or endorse any particular service provider. 

When will my leaf bags be collected?
Leaf bags are collected the same day as your trash and recycling. For instance, if trash is collected Monday, leaf bags will be collected on Monday, too.   

Why were my leaves not collected, if they were put in a plastic bag at the curb?
Leaves in plastic bags are considered trash, collected with normal trash pickup, and disposed of at the Covanta Waste to Energy plant.  Plastic bags are unable to be processed into mulch, and therefore are considered trash.  Please recycle by putting your leaves into paper bags, so they can be recycled into mulch.  

I am having an event and I need my leaves picked up before it takes place?
Unfortunately due to staffing constraints there are no special leaf pick-up that can be scheduled in advance If you have leaves you would like collected before the next leaf collection pass throughout your neighborhood, please put them in leaf bags for collection on your normal trash collection day.  Leaf bags are available for free at designated City facilities.   

What day will my leaves be vacuumed?
We cannot give you an exact date for leaf vacuuming on your street due to weather, staffing, and equipment.   

I want my leaves picked up today, why can't I schedule a pickup?
Unfortunately the City does not offer special pickup services.  Please check your collection date in your zone. 

I saw crews in my neighborhood, but they did not get my leaves or they went to the other side of the street and did not do my side?
Crews often complete the left side of a street and then return for the right side. There is also a chance that crews may be emptying a truck, and will come back to finish their route.   

It's snowing and raining, will crews collect during inclement weather?
Weather affects the collection schedule, if the weather is bad, crews will not be able to collect leaves, and will need to reschedule for that day.  Check online for a weekly updated schedule or sign up for T&ES' Solid Waste E-News  to get weekly updates by e-mail.

I raked my leaves out to the curb too late, will they come back to get them?
If crews have already been through your neighborhood zone, then consider checking for the next pass in your zone or placing leaves in paper bags for collection after your normal trash collection day.

What happens to my leaves once they are picked up?
Leaves are ground into mulch and available to residents in the spring.  

How can I find the most updated information about the City's leaf program schedule, or additional information?  

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