Leaf options for City of Waterloo residents

The City of Waterloo’s loose leaf collection program starts Monday, October 31.

Waterloo’s loose leaf collection service is for the leaves from street trees (those on your boulevard) only. Residents should check the map and schedules online at waterloo.ca/leafcollection or look for neighbourhood signs to see when local collection is scheduled. Leaves should only be raked to the curb a few days before collection starts, keeping storm drains, sidewalks and bike lanes free of leaves.

There are many ways to manage leaves over the coming month, including leaving them mulched on lawns or piled in gardens to help our local pollinators. Residents can also take advantage of the Region’s biweekly yard waste program (collecting November 7 to 11, and November 21 to 25 in Waterloo), bring them to the Region’s drop-off site on Erb Street for composting, or find ways to manage the leaves at home.

To manage leaves at home, an easy option is to mulch fallen leaves into the lawn with the lawn mower. Leaves contain nutrients that help feed microbes and healthy soil, reducing the need for commercial fertilizers. Most lawns can also handle a thin layer of fallen leaves to break down over winter.

Leaves can also be used as a natural mulch in gardens. Pile them in gardens to provide protection for plants throughout the winter, as well as winter shelter for pollinators or small hibernators. The leaves will break down a bit over winter leaving natural nutrients in the garden, and any that don’t break down can be tidied up in the spring.

Managing leaves at home takes the stress out of timing raking with neighbourhood collection schedules, and the unpredictable seasonal leaf drop. It can also have significant environmental benefits, for your lawn, your soil, and by protecting our local pollinators. For more information, visit waterloo.ca/leaves.

Weather permitting, the loose leaf collection for Waterloo street leaves will run until the week of November 21 to 26. Leaf collection crews visit areas with younger trees first, followed by areas with more mature trees. Crews will visit each zone only once. The estimated collection schedule for 2022 is:

• October 31 to November 5: zones W6, W8, E8, E7 and E5
• November 7 to November 12: zones W1, W7, E4 and E6
• November 14 to November 19: zones W3, W4, E2 and E3
• November 21 to November 26: zones W2, W5 and E1

For more information or updates on when leaves in specific zones will be collected, visit waterloo.ca/leafcollection or call 519-886-2310.

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Media contact:

Cari Van Niekerk
Manager, Corporate Communications
cari.vanniekerk@waterloo.ca