Leaf + Tree Collection

Information taken from DC Department of Public Works website.

The fall leaf collection program runs from November 6 through January 12. Collecting leaves reduces potential accidents and injuries caused by slipping on wet leaves, and prevents catch basins (storm drains) from clogging and causing street flooding during heavy rains.

DPW will collect leaves at least twice from each residential neighborhood by “vacuuming” loose leaves residents rake into their treebox(es). The Leaf Collection Brochure, which contains a welcome note, do's and don'ts, FAQs, and a schedule of holiday trees and greenery, was delivered by USPS at the beginning of November. The following link is also helpful: Find the Leaf Collection Schedule and Status for Your Neighborhood.

Burleith's pick up dates are

• Rake leaves out by Sunday, November 26, for collection from November 27 through December 1.
• Rake leaves out by December 24, for collection December 26 through December 30.

Loose leaves will be sent for composting. In neighborhoods with alley trash/recycling collections, bagged leaves may be placed where trash and recycling are collected. These leaves will be collected with the trash as space in the truck permits. If you are bagging your leaves, please use paper bags.

DPW thanks residents for their patience with leaf and holiday tree collections, which may be affected by snow/ice/rain events. The leaf collection crews are the backbone of the District’s snow removal force so when a snow or ice event is predicted they switch from leaf collections to snow operations.

Holiday trees and greenery will be collected from the curb in front of DPW serviced households between January 13 and February 2 on your scheduled recycling days. Trees and greenery collected during these three weeks (and those brought to the Fort Totten and Benning Road transfer stations) will be composted and made available to residents for free. Trees and greenery collected after February 2 will be collected with the trash as space permits in the truck. Please remove ornaments, tinsel and other decorations and put the tree(s) and greenery where your trash and recycling are collected.

As a reminder, apartment buildings with four or more units are required to provide their tenants with solid waste collections, including holiday trees.

How You Can Help

• Rake leaves into the treebox space the Sunday before your street’s collection weeks.
• Please – leaves only! Tree limbs, bricks, dirt, rocks, etc., will damage the equipment and delay collections.
• Prevent fires, parking problems and possible flooding by placing leaves in the treebox space, not in the street. When it rains, leaves will block the storm drain and cause flooding.
• Holiday trees and greenery will be picked up from January 13 to February 2. Please do not put the trees in plastic or cloth bags. Trees collected through February 2 (and those brought to the Fort Totten and Benning Road transfer stations) will be chipped and composted.
• Any trees not collected by February 2 will be picked up as space in the trash trucks allow over the following weeks.