County Leaf Collection Begins Nov. 5

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Division of Highway Services will begin the annual vacuum collection of leaves from Nov. 5 through the end of December. MCDOT makes two collections on every street in the vacuum leaf collection district during the fall.

Bright yellow and green signs will be posted along streets beginning the week of Oct. 22 indicating when to expect MCDOT trucks. Residents also may check the schedule online for initial collection dates. Subsequent dates will be posted in the coming weeks.

Leaves should be placed in piles or containers on the grass or behind the curb, off the road pavement. Leaves should not be placed on road shoulders, rain gardens and bike lanes, as leaves can disrupt traffic, negatively impact stormwater drainage, hamper snow removal operations, and become a fire hazard for automobiles parked over them. Leaf piles also limit the availability of residential parking and pose a safety risk to children and adults, alike. Leaves, especially when wet, can pose a hazard for cyclists and pedestrians.

The leaf collections are restricted to leaves only. Tree debris, sticks, branches or coarse garden debris should be placed in containers or tied in bundles no more than four feet long and placed where yard trim is regularly picked up.

Residents who miss the two scheduled vacuum collections can still have their leaves collected by placing them in paper yard trim bags or reusable containers for pick up on their regular yard trim collection day. Leaves placed in plastic bags will not be accepted.

MCDOT makes every effort to maintain the collection schedules posted online, weather permitting.

Residents should look for signs posted along the streets announcing the collection dates in their neighborhoods. MCDOT posts green signs indicating the date of the first collection and red signs indicating the second and final collection.

The leaf vacuum collection district is bounded by I-495, I-270, the Rockville City limits, Norbeck, Bel Pre and Bonifant roads, Northwest Branch Park, and the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County lines.

Leaves should be placed in piles or containers on the grass or behind the curb, off the road pavement. Placing leaves in streets or alleys can disrupt traffic and surface drainage, hamper snow removal operations or pose a fire hazard to automobiles parked over them. Keep leaves off road shoulders and bikeshare lanes. Leaves, especially when wet, can pose a hazard for cyclists.

About Staff Writer

View all posts by Staff Writer