Curbside Leaf Collection
Do's and Don'ts & Help Keep Leaves off the Street!
FINAL WEEKS OF CURBSIDE LEAF COLLECTION
A final citywide curbside leaf collection will occur during the first two weeks of January, weather permitting. Look for the posted signs in your neighborhood to know when and where curbside leaf collection will occur. Refer to the city website www.collegeparkmd.gov/specialcollections#curbsideleaf for the most up-to-date collection schedule.
After the final leaf vacuuming occurs, soft yard waste collections will resume on your regular collection day. Soft yard waste includes leaves, grass and soft clippings. These type of items can be placed in paper yard waste bags, the beige yard waste cart, or reusable containers with a City yard trim decal (decals can be picked up for free at Public Works) for collection.
Woody Yard Waste
Woody yard waste includes branches greater that ½” in diameter, brush, small logs, and shrubs; these are processed into wood mulch. Woody yard waste is collected year-round on Thursday and Friday by appointment only. Please email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov or call 240-487-3590 to schedule a collection.
Preparing material for collection:
- Bundle and tie woody yard waste with string or biodegradable strapping; bundles should be less than 5 feet long and weigh less than 75 pounds.
- Use paper yard waste bags, the beige yard waste cart, or personal reusable containers with a yellow City yard waste sticker; free stickers are available at DPW.
- Place at the curb by 7:00 am
- Do not use plastic bags, or city issued refuse or recycling carts, or the material will not be collected.
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.