Mayor Bowser Kicks Off Leaf Collection, Announces Expansion of Food Waste Smart Bin Program

(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Department of Public Works (DPW) kicked off the 2025-2026 Leaf Collection season, which will run from Monday, November 3, through February 2026. Mayor Bowser also announced the expansion of the District's Food Waste Smart Bin Program, which will grow from 31 to 50 locations in 2026.

"There are many ways that DPW and residents work together to keep our city clean and safe, and leaf collection is one of them," said Mayor Bowser. "We encourage everyone to look up your collection zone, pay attention to when DPW announces that they're ten days out, and then work together with your neighbors to have leaves in tree boxes or curbside for collection."

Residents are encouraged to visit dpw.dc.gov/leaf to find their collection section based on their address. The Leaf Tracker shows sections across Wards 1 through 8, labeled A through D. For example, residents in Section A will rake their leaves out during the same week, regardless of ward. Each residential street that receives DPW trash and recycling services will get at least two leaf collections during the season.

Each Friday, DPW will post updates for residents informing them when to rake out their leaves based on the sections scheduled for collection in the upcoming week. Stay informed by checking the following platforms for updates:

Download the MyDPW app from the Apple App Store or Google Play
Subscribe to the DPW Stakeholder Newsletter
Call the Leaf Line at 202-671-LEAF (5323)

Follow DPW on social media:
X: @dcdpw
Instagram: @dcdpw
Facebook: DC Department of Public Works

"Leaf collections is one of our toughest operations because we're working with two unpredictable forces-Mother Nature and human nature," said DPW Interim Director Anthony Crispino. "We can't depend on the number of leaves that will fall prior to collection times but we do depend on residents to rake and sweep them to the curb when that happens so that our crews can collect them efficiently. It's one of the few DPW operations that works best when crews and residents work together."

To ensure leaves are collected, residents should rake their leaves into the tree box or curb in front of their homes the Sunday before their scheduled collection week. If a property does not have a tree box, leaves should be placed directly at the curb. Leaves in paper bags will also be collected; plastic bags cannot be composted and will be collected as trash. On collection days, residents should avoid parking along curb lanes to ensure efficient leaf vacuuming.

This year, DPW crews will begin leaf collection on Monday, November 3, in Section A. Residents in Section A are asked to rake their leaves out by Sunday, November 2.

Leaf Season Collection Tips

• Check the tracker at dpw.dc.gov/leaf to learn which section you live in and whether it is up next for leaf collection.
• Move vehicles from curb lanes to help ease the leaf vacuum collection process.
• Rake leaves to the curbside or tree box at the front of the residence the Sunday before the scheduled leaf collection date.
• Remove all cans, bottles, sticks, toys, and debris from your piles of leaves. These items can damage equipment and prevent safe and proper collection.
• Download the MyDPW app to receive customized alerts about leaf collection in your neighborhood.
• If bagging, place leaves in paper bags only, as leaves placed in plastic bags will be not be recycled.
• District residents can also bring leaves contained in paper bags to the Fort Totten Transfer Station located at 4900 John McCormack Drive NE, open Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 2 pm, and Saturday 7 am to 2 pm.
• When snow, freezing rain, or ice are in the forecast, the District Snow Team mobilizes to pre-treat our streets, then spread salt as needed. This may require switching DPW equipment and crews from leaf collection duties to snow duties, which may unfortunately cause leaf collection delays.
• Leaves will not be collected on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Residents should look out for the weekly messaging on when to rake out leaves during holiday weeks.
• If your street has not been serviced after DPW announces that crews have moved on to the next section, please call 311 (202-737-4404) or visit 311.dc.gov to open a "Leaf Collection Missed" service request.

In addition to kicking off leaf season, Mayor Bowser highlighted the District's growing composting and food waste diversion efforts. She also announced that DPW's Food Waste Smart Bins program will expand from 31 bins to 50 bins in 2026. The bins currently collect an average of 55,000 pounds of food waste each month. With the expansion to 50 bins, DPW expects to collect an additional 35,000 pounds of food waste each month. The program ranks as the second-largest food waste smart bin initiative in the United States after New York City.

Residents are also encouraged to compost pumpkins, gourds, and other food scraps by dropping them off at one of the District's 12 community food waste drop-off sites. As a reminder, pumpkins decorated with paint, glitter, or other inorganic matter cannot be composted.

Community Food Waste Drop-Off Sites

Ward 1:

• Columbia Heights Farmers Market (14th and Kenyon Streets NW, open year-round on Saturdays, 9 am. to 1 pm)
• Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market (3200 Mt. Pleasant Street NW, open year-round on Saturdays, 9 am. to 1 pm)

Ward 2:

• DuPont Circle Farmers Market (1500 20th Street NW, open year-round on Sundays, 8:30 am. to 1:30 pm)

Ward 3:

• University of District of Columbia Farmers Market (4340 Connecticut Avenue NW, open seasonally on Saturdays, 9 am. to 1 pm)
• Palisades Farmers Market (48th Place NW & MacArthur Blvd NW, open year-round on Sundays, 9 am. to 1 pm)
• Cleveland Park Farmers Market (3426 Connecticut Avenue NW, open seasonally on Saturdays, 9 am. to 1 pm)

Ward 4:

• Uptown Farmers Market (14th and Kennedy Streets NW, open seasonally on Saturdays, 9 am. to 1 pm)

Ward 5:

• Monroe Street Market (716 Monroe Street NE, open seasonally on Saturdays, 9 am. to 1 pm)

Ward 6:

• Eastern Market (in front of Rumsey Pool, 635 North Carolina Avenue SE, open year-round on Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm)
• SW Farmers Market (425 M Street SW, open year-round on Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm)

Ward 7:

• First Baptist Church of Deanwood - Outreach Center (4408 Sheriff Road NE, open year-round on Saturdays, 9 am to 12:30 pm)

Ward 8:

• Sycamore & Oak (1110 Oak Drive SE, open year-round on Saturdays, 10 am to 2 pm)

For more information about DPW's food waste reduction initiatives, visit zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff.

Leaf collection will begin in Section A on Monday, November 3. Each residential neighborhood will receive at least two leaf collections during the season. Residents are asked to rake leaves to the curb or tree box in front of their homes the weekend before their scheduled collection week. Residents can learn more at dpw.dc.gov/leaf.

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