When are leaves collected in your town? Rules and schedules across the Triangle
Trees are starting to shed their bright and beautiful leaves, covering our yards, sidewalks, driveways and roads.
For those who rake or blow the leaves and want them gone, most Triangle towns have leaf collection services (also, many towns encourage backyard composting as a sustainable alternative to collection).
Some towns use a vacuum truck, asking residents to keep leaves unbagged in a neat pile near the curb. Others require clear bags for leaf pick up. Make sure you know your town’s instructions so you get your leaves removed without hassle.
The News & Observer has compiled a list of Triangle towns offering leaf collection in 2022:
Apex leaf collection
• Details: Yard waste collection in Apex takes place weekly (though inclement weather, holidays or high demand might get in the way). The Vacuum Truck will take leaves, grass clippings, weeds and more.
Here are Apex’s instructions for leaf collection:
Do not bag yard waste. Please place curbside.
Place yard waste 10 feet away from storm drains.
Dirt, sod, mulch, and rocks are not accepted items for yard waste collection.
Separate this pile from any sticks / limbs, as those items can damage the vacuum tube.
(Info: apexnc.org)
• When: Yard waste collection is on the business day following garbage and recycling collection. Use the address lookup tool on the town’s website to check your schedule.
• Questions?: Call Apex’s customer service number at (919) 362-8676.
Carrboro leaf collection
• Details: Carrboro’s Loose Leaf Collection Program is year-round, performed with no extra charge to residents. The town recycles leaves as compost, and the leaf compost is free for Carrboro residents.
Here are Carrboro’s instructions for leaf collection:
Don’t put leaves in the street or block sidewalks, bike lanes or storm drains.
Optional use of a roll-out cart which is collected with an automated side loader refuse truck.
No plastic or paper bags are allowed.
Keep the gutter clear. Allow at least one foot between the curb and the leaves.
Don’t block stormwater grates.
Loose leaves must be free of all debris. No dirt, sod, rock or concrete.
Separate loose leaves and brush. Piles that contain limbs, brush or other yard waste will not be picked up.
Place your leaf piles away from trees that have overhanging branches less than 14 feet from the ground, or lower branches that protrude into the lane of travel.
Park vehicles at least 10 feet away from piles.
Do not place leaves in lanes of travel (bike lanes/travel lanes).
Help keep your neighborhood safe for people walking, biking, and driving by placing your trash, recycling and yard waste carts where they don’t block the sidewalk, bike lane or traffic flow.
(Info: townofcarrboro.org)
• When: Residents typically receive loose-leaf and yard waste collection two Mondays per month (either on the first and third or the second and fourth Monday of the month). Routes sometimes take more than one day to complete, even though collection day is Monday, depending on the amount of material placed at the curb.
• Questions?: Contact Carrboro Public Works at (919) 918-7425 or PWorks@townofcarrboro.org.
Cary leaf collection
• Details: Cary collects loose leaves three times a year between November and February.
Here are Cary’s instructions for leaf collection:
Place at curb and out of roadway by 7 a.m. on the first date of your collection periods.
Avoid covering sidewalks, storm drains, water meters, fire hydrants and sewer clean-outs.
Keep piles at a distance from mailboxes and parked cars.
Keep trash, large stones and other debris out of leaf piles.
A fee will apply for additional pickup requests.
Residents can also include loose leaves with their yard waste, collected weekly, by placing them in reusable containers or brown paper bags.
(Info: townofcary.org)
• When: Search your address on Cary’s website to learn your collection schedule.
• Questions?: Submit a 311 request at services.townofcary.org/CommunitiesCaseManagement.
Chapel Hill leaf collection
• Details: Vacuum Truck leaf collection takes place from October to February.
Here are Chapel Hill’s instructions for leaf collection:
Place your leaf pile behind the curb and make sure piles are free of limbs and other debris (pine straw is fine).
Do not place in the street, and avoid blocking bike lanes, sidewalks, fire hydrants, mailboxes, storm drains, and water meters. For safety, refrain from interfering with sight distances at intersections.
Leaves in plastic bags cannot be collected.
Residents are encouraged to monitor the town’s website and hold off on placing loose leaves at the back of the curb until no more than two weeks prior to the anticipated arrival of the collection crews in your neighborhood.
(Info: townofchapelhill.org)
• When: Keep up with Chapel Hill’s website to learn when your section’s leaves will be picked up. Identify your section using the online map.
• Questions?: Contact Chapel Hill at 919-968-2743 or info@townofchapelhill.org.
Clayton leaf collection
• Details: Vacuum collection during Loose Leaf Season runs from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31. The collection is done by All Star and included in your trash collection fee.
Here are Clayton’s instructions for leaf collection:
Make sure your piles are free of rocks, sticks, dirt and debris.
Leaves should be placed behind the curb, not in the gutter or in the drainage ditch. You also have the option to bag your leaves or place them in a cart (no bigger than 50 gallons) and they’ll be picked up on your regular yard waste day all year long.
Bagged leaves must be in clear bags. Clear yard waste bags are available at a variety of locations, and can be ordered online.
(Info: townofclaytonnc.org)
• When: All Star collection takes place the next business day following your regularly scheduled trash day.
The All Star Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste Schedule is available on Clayton’s website.
• Questions?: Call Clayton’s Public Works Department at 919-553-1530.
Durham leaf collection
• Details: Durham’s yard waste program is an optional, fee-based program for residents. For $90 per year, residents are enrolled in the yard waste program from July 1 to June 30. Program subscribers may place up to 10 biodegradable leaf bags out per collection.
Durham’s website says the program is currently accepting new customers, who can sign up in English or Spanish.
Here are Durham’s instructions for leaf collection:
No personal containers or garbage carts will be collected.
Cart is rolled to the curb with the bar facing towards the street.
Cart lid should be closed. If the lid cannot close, yard waste can extend only two feet out of the container.
Weight of the container must not exceed 175 pounds.
Neither dirt nor rocks are considered yard waste and will not be collected.
Carts should be removed from the curb within 24 hours after pickup.
(Info: durhamnc.gov)
• When: Curbside yard waste collection is generally weekly. Find your collection day on the city’s website.
• Questions?: Contact the City of Durham at 919-560-1200.
Fuquay-Varina leaf collection
• Details: Town leaf collection runs from Oct. 10 to Feb. 10.
Here are Fuquay-Varina’s instructions for leaf collection:
Do not place loose leaves in a bag or container. Place loose leaves and pine straw that are free of limbs, sticks, rocks and other debris at the curb in one large pile by Sunday evening of your regularly scheduled recycle week.
Do not place leaves in the street where they may interfere with traffic or drainage.
Do not block sidewalks or fire hydrants.
(Info: fuquay-varina.org)
• When: Loose leaves are picked up the same week as your recycling.
Learn your recycling route using the collection schedule posted on Fuquay-Varina’s website, and cross-reference it with the Green and Blue Recycling Schedule, also on the town’s website.
• Questions?: Call Fuquay-Varina at 919-753-1027.
Garner leaf collection
• Details: Garner’s leaf collection service runs from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28.
Here are Garner’s instructions for leaf collection:
Loose leaves will be collected at the edge of the street, behind the curb, away from mailboxes and storm drains.
Be sure that leaf piles are free of stones, bricks, branches and other solid objects.
(Info: garnernc.gov)
• When: Loose leaf collection follows the recycling schedule for your area.
• Questions?: Contact Garner’s Public Works Department at (919) 772-7600 or PublicWorksServiceDesk@garnernc.gov.
Knightdale leaf collection
• Details: Loose leaf pickup runs from late October to early February.
Here are Knightdale’s instructions for leaf collection:
All loose leaves must be ready for pickup by 7:30 a.m. on your first scheduled day.
Leaves must be raked to the back of the curb or edge of the yard.
Loose leaves must be piled within six feet of the edge of the pavement. Do not pile leaves in the street or gutter. Piles can’t be collected within five feet of parked cars.
Grass clippings and trimmings may also be placed loose at the curb and will be collected by the Vacuum Trucks. Branches may be placed in an approved container, or set for pickup by the knuckle boom depending on size.
Ensure there are no rocks or other debris mixed in with leaf litter. The Town will not be able to collect leaf piles where other litter is present.
If you use bags for your leaves, ensure they are clear bags or paper compostable bags.
(Info: knightdalenc.gov)
• When: Dates for neighborhoods are available on Knightdale’s website.
• Questions?: Contact (919) 217-2250 or martha.curfman@knightdalenc.gov.
Morrisville leaf collection
• Details: Leave removal is a part of Morrisville’s yard waste collection services.
Here are Morrisville’s instructions for leaf collection:
All yard waste items must be bagged or bundled to be picked up.
Grass clippings, leaves, trimmings and small sticks need to be placed in paper yard waste bags.
There will be no loose leaf vacuum pickup.
Do not place any yard waste in your trash or recycling carts.
A maximum of 20 bags per household will be picked up on the scheduled service day.
(Info: townofmorrisville.org)
• When: For Thursday and Friday Routes, yard waste is collected on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. For Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday routes, yard waste is collected on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.
• Questions?: Contact the Town of Morrisville at 919-463-6200.
Pittsboro leaf collection
• Details: Pittsboro collects piled, loose leaves twice a week from October through February.
Here are Pittsboro’s instructions for leaf collection:
Keep leaves out of the street and avoid sidewalks, fire hydrants, mailboxes and water meters.
The Town will not pick up leaves that are more than six feet from the edge of the street or curb. The Town will not pick up leaf piles containing sticks, debris, household items or construction debris.
The Town may also delay its pickup of leaves after rain events or if leaves are too wet to retrieve on the scheduled pickup day.
(Info: pittsboronc.gov)
• When: The town is split into two routes: east and west. Find schedules for both routes on the town’s website.
• Questions?: Contact the Town of Pittsboro at 919-542-4621.
Raleigh leaf collection
• Details: Seasonal Loose Leaf Collection is provided annually to Raleigh residents who rake leaves from their lawns into piles near the curb (not into the street).
Here are Raleigh’s instructions for leaf collection:
Place your leaf piles in your yard between the area between the curb and the sidewalk. Make sure leaf piles are close enough to the street for the collection equipment to reach them. (Generally, no more than six feet from the edge of the asphalt.)
Trim any low hanging limbs in front of your residence. Collection equipment requires 16 feet to pass safely under them.
Wait to place loose leaves at the curb until no more than 2 weeks prior to the expected arrival of the collection crews in your neighborhood.
Find a full list of do’s and don’ts on Raleigh’s website.
(Info: raleighnc.gov)
• When: Collection begins Nov. 14. Find your zone using Raleigh’s neighborhood lookup tool on the city’s website, and see when your area will have its first collection.
• Questions?: Contact Leaf Line at 919-996-3720 or leafcollection@raleighnc.gov.
Wake Forest leaf collection
• Details: Loose leaf collection runs from the first Monday in October to the second Friday in March.
Here are Wake Forest’s instructions for leaf collection:
Place leaves behind the curb, not in the street or gutter, so they do not interfere with traffic or drainage
Do not mix sticks, rocks, pine cones, garden trimmings, trash, pet waste, limbs or other debris with loose leaves. Vacuum equipment is only designed to pick up loose leaves and pine needles.
Leaf piles should be placed at least eight feet away from other objects including cars, mailboxes, carts, trees, shrubs, etc.
(Info: wakeforestnc.gov)
• When: Leaf collection follows the normal yard waste collection schedule, though a specific day’s route needs to be completed before moving to the next day’s route.
Residents can track the leaf collection crews’ progress by calling the Leaf Collection Hotline at 919-435-9582. The hotline gets updated each weekday morning by 8 a.m. with information about where neighborhood crews will be working that day.
• Questions?: Contact the Town of Wake Forest at (919) 435-9400.
Did we miss one? Let us know at ask@newsobserver.com.
