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(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser kicked off the 2021-2022 Leaf Collection by reminding residents that leaf collection begins on Monday, November 1. The Mayor and the Department of Public Works (DPW) also reminded residents how they can dispose of old pumpkins in an environmentally-friendly way by composting them through the District’s food drop off program.

“Today, we’re reminding all residents to check their leaf collection schedules and make sure they’re prepared for leaf season,” said Mayor Bowser. “And fall is always a good time to remind residents about our Food Waste Drop-Off program, a free service that makes composting in the city easy.”

DPW will be using a vacuum process for collecting leaves. Residents whose properties are serviced by DPW are asked to rake their leaves for collection to the curb or into the tree box at the front of their residence. To help facilitate the vacuum process, residents are also asked to keep vehicles away from the curb lanes on scheduled collection days.

Collections will still occur twice in each neighborhood this year between on November 1, 2021 and January 15, 2022. DPW collection schedules will remain the same. Schedules and frequently asked questions can be found at dpw.dc.gov/service/leaf-collection.

“Many know that our leaf collection program gives us an opportunity to recycle those leaves and turn them into free compost for residents during the spring,” said Acting DPW Director Christine Davis. “We ask residents to help the District’s recycling efforts even further by dropping off their unused pumpkins and gourds at one of our 10 food waste drop off sites located. Redirecting food waste from landfills not only improves our environment, reducing food waste is vital in our efforts to combat hunger.”

DPW also reminded residents who receive their trash and recycling services that effective August 2021, they can also schedule yard waste collection pick-up service any time of the year. Residents may collect leaves, cut grass, twigs, and small shrubs for collection by DPW, which they can place at their trash and recycling point of collection in brown paper bags only. To schedule a yard waste collection, residents can call 311, visit 311.dc.gov, or download the 311 mobile app available at the Google Play and Apple App stores.

Residents are also reminded to “recycle” their decoration pumpkins and gourds by dropping them off at one of the nine DPW food waste drop-off sites located at Farmers’ Markets across the city. For a list of these sites, visit zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff.

Beginning the week of November 6, most pumpkins and gourds can be taken to one of nine food waste collection sites in the District for composting, in support of the District’s zero waste efforts. Please note that pumpkins decorated with paint, glitter or other inorganic matter cannot be composted. The food waste collected at drop-off locations is composted. The food drop off sites are as follows:

Note: The Ward 8 Farmers Market located at 3200 6th Street SE is closed for the season.

Use our Slide Guide to find out how holidays affect your collection schedule.

Enter part or all of any address in the District of Columbia to see your pick up day(s) for Trash and Recycling Collection.

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