The 2010 Philly Bagged Leaf Drive will begin Monday, November 8, and will end Friday, December 17. The program is one of several services provided by the Streets Department to honor the City's on-going commitment to recycling. This recycling program helps to reduce the amount of materials that reach the waste stream and saves landfill space. During this six-week program, we will collect and compost leaves to fertilize gardens and nourish trees.

Only bagged leaf collection will be offered. There will be no mechanical leaf collection. This program is offered to citizens receiving City collection of trash and recycling materials. Landscapers and leaf cleaning services should remove and dispose of leaves privately.

Collection guidelines for bagged leaf collection:

Leaves will only be collected in brown paper biodegradable bags, which can be purchased at most major hardware or home improvement stores. The Streets Department does

not provide them.

- Set leaf bags out next to trash and recyclables on their regular trash day

- Leaves set out in plastic bags will be collected as trash, not recycling.                                     - Never mix trash or other recyclable materials with bagged leaves. This contaminates          leaves and makes them unfit for recycling and composting purposes                                         - You may use as many bags as needed, maximum 40 lbs. each.

- No collection will occur on a City holiday.

Bagged leaves may also be taken to any of the three Sanitation Convenience Centers:

        -  3033 S. 63rd Street (63rd & Passyunk Ave.)

        - Domino Lane and Umbria Street

        - State Road and Ashburner Street

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are leaves only being collected in biodegradable paper bags?

Brown paper bags can be processed for recycling along with the leaves. This reduces contamination in the recycling process, and allows for significant improvement in operational efficiency and more easily identifies bags as leaves.

Where can I get biodegradable brown paper trash bags?

Brown paper bags are available at most hardware and home improvement stores.

Why is mechanical leaf collection service no longer offered?

Due to budgetary constraints, the Streets Department can only offer bagged leaf collection service. 

What happens during weeks with City holidays?

No collection will occur on a City holiday.

Will rain affect the leaf collection?

No. Except in cases of extreme weather conditions, bagged collection will occur rain or shine. In the event of adverse weather conditions, residents are urged to watch for updates on television, radio, or in local newspapers, regarding any changes in the collection schedule.

How can citizens learn more about the 2010 Philly Leaf Drive?

        - Look for information in neighborhood and major newspapers

        - Look for ads placed in community newspapers

        - Watch the City's Government Cable Access Channel presentation on Comcast Channel 64

         View information on the Streets Department websites at www.phila.gov/streets and www.philadelphiastreets.com

        - Contact the 3-1-1 or the Streets Department?s Customer Affairs Unit at 215-686-5560.