Residential Leaf Collection

From late October through January, City crews operate leaf vacuum trucks and collect paper leaf bags. The annual curbside leaf collection program is a service provided to all residents receiving City residential refuse and recycling services.
Page updated on October 21, 2026 at 2:56 PM
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Leaf Vacuuming

Leaf Collection Zone Map and Schedule

A map of the City of Alexandria with the five zones for leaf collection numbered from west to east, with zone 5 in Old Town divided into four sub-zones.

 

*If your street is a boundary line, consider the middle of your street to be the divider between the two zones.*

*Leaf vacuuming dates are subject to change based on weather conditions and staffing availability.*

Loose leaf vacuum collection takes place in Alexandria across five different zones, each starting on a set date. Residents who receive City trash service will receive three passes from the collection vehicle between November 2026 and January 2027.

Signage: Crews post signs in each zone with the earliest expected start date. Signs are updated at least 3 days in advance to give residents time to place leaves out.

Weekly Updates: Progress and delays are shared via the interactive map and City social media.

Timing: Each pass may take several days. Don’t worry if you don’t see a truck on day one—crews are working through the zone. The next pass won’t begin until every zone receives service.

311 Requests: Only contact Alex311 if your leaves aren’t collected after your pass is marked complete.

  • Missed streets (confirmed via GPS) will be prioritized as a missed collection. 
  • Leaves placed out late may need to wait for the next pass.

Residents can also access the interactive Residential Leaf Collection Viewer map to look up assigned leaf collection dates based on their home address.

How to Prepare:

  • Rake leaves out before your zone’s scheduled pass begins.
  • Keep leaf piles free of branches, rocks, litter and debris.
  • Do not place leaves out over storm drains or water meter covers.
  • Do not place leaves out after your pass is completed until the next pass date is announced. 
  • Do not park vehicles in front of leaf piles to allow for safe and efficient collection. Park at least two feet away for your safety and the safety of collection crews.
  • Do not rake leaves into alleys or service roads. No leaves, whether in piles or paper bags, are collected from alleys. 

Leaf Bag Collection

Curbside leaf bag collection takes place on your regular yard waste collection day, from November 3 through early January 2027.

To help the City recycle leaves into mulch, please use biodegradable paper bags only. Mulch made from collected leaves will be available for pick-up or delivery in the spring.

Plastic bags including biodegradable plastic are considered trash and will not be collected with yard waste.

Using paper bagshelps prevent contamination and ensures leaves can be reused as high-quality mulch.

During leaf collection season, the City provides biodegradable paper bags for leaves. The bags are available at numerous City facilities and are free of charge. Bags are collected at the front curb on the regular trash collection day. Leaf bag distribution at City facilities will begin October 20.

How to Prepare:

  • Remove dirt, stones, litter and other debris from leaves before placing in bags.
  • 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.
  • Place paper bags at the front curb, on your regular trash collection day.

Free City leaf bags are available on a first come, first serve basis, while supplies last. Leaf bags will not be available at the Temporary City Hall location at Tavern Square. Bags are available at the following locations:

**Limit 15 bags per residential household, per visit. Not available for commercial use**

  • Solid Waste - Leaf Bag Shed, 2900 B Business Center Dr.
    Monday - Saturday, 24 hours (Closed Sundays)
  • Charles Barrett Rec Center, 1115 Martha Custis Dr.
    Daily, 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Chinquapin Rec Center, 3210 King St.
    Monday - Thursday, 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
    Friday, 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
    Saturday - Sunday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • William Ramsey Rec Center, 5650 Sanger Ave.
    Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
    Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Mount Vernon Rec Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave.
    Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
    Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Charles Houston Rec Center, 901 Wythe St.
    Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
    Friday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
    Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m.

Composting Leaves at Home

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. Visit alexandriava.gov/ResourceRecovery to learn more about grasscycling, backyard composting, the City's new curbside composting pilot, and the City’s farmers’ market composting stations. 

Leaf Season Information & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

From the end of October through January, City crews operate leaf vacuum trucks and collect paper leaf bags throughout the City. Residents who receive City refuse 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 the same day as regular refuse collection.

Leaves are ground into mulch and available to residents in the Spring.

A schedule is mailed to residents and posted online every October. The City is sectioned into five collection zones and Old Town (Zone 5) has four collection subzones. Each zone will receive three collection passes. To determine your assigned zone, use the Residential Leaf Collection Viewer or refer to the Leaf Collection Zone Map.

If the vacuuming schedule is changed, a new schedule is announced on the City’s website, by an eNews update every Friday, and by the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services' Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. The information is also available through Alex311.

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. Now, with the introduction of subzones, residents of Zone 5 will have scheduled dates for each of their three passes.

Sometimes inclement weather and equipment problems cause delays. Sometimes inclement weather and equipment problems cause delays. In the event of delays or schedule changes, the information will be announced on the City website and via the T&ES Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. This information is also available through Alex311. 

Crews may also take several days to complete leaf pickup in a single zone. You may not necessarily see crews on the first day of collection in your zone.

Leaves should be raked to the curb or placed in paper leaf bags for collection. Avoid gutters and storm drains. Do not rake leaves into alleys or service roads.

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.

Leaf bags are collected on the same day as regular refuse collection. For instance, if your refuse collection day is Monday, leaf bags will be collected on Monday, too.

Leaves in plastic bags are considered refuse, collected with normal trash pickup, and disposed of at the Reworld™ Alexandria Waste to Energy plant. Plastic bags are unable to be processed into mulch even if they are recyclable, and therefore are considered trash. Please recycle by putting your leaves into paper bags, so they can be recycled into mulch.

Unfortunately, due to staffing constraints, there is no special leaf pickup service 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 refuse collection day. Leaf bags are available for free at designated City facilities.

We cannot give you an exact date for leaf vacuuming on your street. Inclement weather, as well as staffing and equipment constraints, may cause delays.

Unfortunately, the City does not offer special pickup services. Please check your collection date in your zone or place your leaves in paper bags for collection on your regular refuse collection day.

Crews often complete one side of a street and then return for the other side. There is also a chance that crews may be emptying a truck and will come back to finish the route.

Weather affects the collection schedule. If there is inclement weather, 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' Resource Recovery eNews to get weekly updates by e-mail. Service updates during inclement weather will also be communicated on the City website and via the T&ES Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.

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 on your normal refuse collection day.

The City posts these signs to inform residents when their collection passes are scheduled.

Stay Informed

Need the most current information about the City's leaf program schedule?