Washington, D.C. announces leaf collection schedule

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced that the city's leaf collection season will begin on November 2. The Department of Public Works plans to make at least two passes on streets receiving city trash and recycling services between November 2 and February 1.

Residents will receive approximately 10 days' notice via mail before their scheduled collection week. Schedules can also be accessed through the MyDPW app, an online tracker, or by calling the city’s Leaf Line.

To facilitate collection, officials advise residents to rake leaves into tree boxes rather than the street or into plastic bags; paper bags are permitted. Residents are also asked to remove debris such as sticks, bottles, and cans from the piles. The collection effort is intended to prevent storm drains from clogging, which reduces the risk of localized flooding and supports the city's composting program.