Dec 3rd - Leaf Pickup

Hello!

"Set Out Leaves on December 3, 2023 for a Last Chance Collection Opportunity

The Streets Division will perform a last chance leaf collection opportunity for the entire City of Madison, weather permitting.

How to Get Your Last Chance Leaf Collection

Place your leaves out for collection on or by Sunday, December 3, 2023 to take advantage of this absolute last chance leaf pickup.  

Crews will be in your neighborhood as soon as they can.  Since the entire City of Madison is sharing the same last chance set out date, it will take time for crews to cycle through all neighborhoods. Your patience will be appreciated.

If you do not place your leaves out for pickup on or by Sunday, December 3, you may miss your last chance to have leaves collected from the curb this year. 

Crews will not return for leaves set out after the last chance pickup has occurred on any given street. 

The only way to ensure you do not miss your last chance opportunity is to place the leaves out for pickup on or by Sunday, December 3, 2023 and for the weather remain snow-free long enough for Streets Division crews to provide leaf pickup. 

Once the last chance collection cycle is complete, there will be no more curbside leaf collection for 2023.  

Collection Not Guaranteed Due to Weather

The Streets Division does not guarantee that your leaves set on the terrace will be collected before the first significant snowstorm of the year.

Crews will be working at full capacity in order to collect as much as we can while the weather remains clear. 

Residents concerned about winter weather interfering with the last chance collection opportunity are encouraged to use the Streets Division drop-off sites or utilize alternative methods for the yard waste, such as composting at home, mulching it with a mower, or holding the leaves until the spring 2024 collection period.

The same crews who collect leaves are the same individuals who drive snowplows, and the same vehicles that push leaves are used to clear snow from bus stops and city-maintained sidewalks and other areas around Madison.  Responding to a snowstorm is a higher priority for the Streets Division than leaf collection, and the last chance leaf collection may be halted in favor of snow-related duties should the weather require it.

Street Sweepers Limited, Leaf Litter in Streets

The last chance leaf collection may cause the normal leaf litter of the pickup process to linger in the road longer than earlier in the year.

In early December of each year, the Streets Division sends a majority of the street sweeper fleet out for a maintenance overhaul so they are in fine working condition by the spring. 

As a result, there will be fewer sweepers available to clean up leaf debris left in the road following leaf collection operations.

Also, street sweepers do not operate when temperatures are below freezing.  Sweepers need water to work, so they cannot function when it is too cold.  If any last chance collections coincide with cold days, that will also contribute to debris left in the road. 

Follow Set Out Rules

Be sure you are following the rules about how you should set out your leaves for collection.

Place leaves on the terrace or right of way space in front of your home.  Do not place leaves directly into the street.

Keep your leaf piles four feet from obstructions, like utility poles, fire hydrants, electrical boxes and similar objects.

Piles can be placed loose at the curb, covered with a tarp, or placed into bags.

If you bag your leaves, keep them open so crews can identify what is inside.   

If you choose to use bags, compostable paper lawn bags are preferred.  Crews have to rip open or dump out plastic bags, and then they leave the plastic ones behind as there is not space in the truck for them and plastic bags cannot be taken to the composting facility.

More Information

Further details about yard waste can be found at www.cityofmadison.com/YardWaste

More details about all Streets Division services can be found at www.cityofmadison.com/Streets

City of Madison Streets Division"

Other resources:

• Refuse/Recycling, Brush & Yard Waste Schedule Map
• Leaf Pickup
• Snow/Winter
• Winter Parking