Curbside Leaf Collection
Do's and Don'ts & Help Keep Leaves off the Street!
Curbside leaf vacuuming is in full swing and will continue through the beginning of January. Look for the posted signs in your neighborhood to know when curbside leaf collection will occur. Collection schedules are tentative as they depend on weather conditions. Refer to the city website www.collegeparkmd.gov/specialcollections#curbsideleaf for the most up-to-date collection schedule.
To stay on schedule, leaf trucks will not be able to return to collect leaves once they have already been through your street.
If you put your soft yard waste (grass and leaves) in bags or containers they will only be collected when the leaf vacuum is scheduled to be in your neighborhood. Weekly yard waste collections on regular trash collection days are suspended during curbside leaf collection period.
CURBSIDE LEAF COLLECTION GUIDE & HOW-TO'S
Help Keep Leaves off the Street!
During curbside leaf collection, please rake all leaves to the curb and not into streets.
Did you know, that leaves in the street cause problems?
- Leaves can become slick with oils and rain, potentially causing unsafe driving conditions
- They can block water from entering the storm drains which can lead to flooding
- Leaves pollute our waterways! Stormwater picks up the nutrients from leaves, and an exessive amount can lead to toxic algae blooms, low oxygen levels and green murky waters (none of which are good for organisms living in the water or those of us who use it for recreation).
The City of College Park is a watershed community. Two of our creeks, Paint Branch Creek and Indian Creek, flow into the Anacostia River which is part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Help protect the watershed by keeping leaves out of the street!
Curbside Leaf Collection Do’s and Don’ts:
- No bagging is necessary during leaf collection with vacuums. Grass can be included in your leaf piles, but no sticks, branches, vines or woody vegetation as these items require a special collection.
- Rake leaves to the curb. Do not put them in the street. Pile leaves away from cars and storm drains. The leaf vacuum cannot reach around cars.
- Remove tree limbs, rocks, trash, and other debris from leaves to be collected. These items can damage the equipment and cause delays.
- Noise and dust may be noticeable. Dry conditions generate more dust. We apologize for any inconvenience.