Optional loose leaf collection for City of Waterloo residents

The City of Waterloo’s loose leaf collection program starts this week and runs for four weeks. Residents have many options for managing leaves this year.

The leaf collection service is for street tree leaves (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 be raked to the curb only a few days before collection starts, keeping storm drains, sidewalks and bike lanes free of leaves.

One option for managing leaves over the coming month include “leaving the leaves” where they are. Leaving them mulched on lawns or piled in gardens will help our local pollinators as well as enrich soil. Residents can also take advantage of the Region’s biweekly yard waste program (collecting week of November 4 and November 18 in Waterloo) or bring them to the Region’s drop-off site on Erb Street for composting.

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 will break down a thin layer of fallen leaves over winter.

Leaves can also act 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. For more information on the environmental benefits for your lawn, your soil, and for our local pollinators visit leave the leaves.

Managing leaves at home takes the stress out of raking according to neighbourhood collection schedules, and the unpredictable seasonal leaf drop.

Weather permitting, the loose leaf collection for Waterloo street leaves will run until November 23. Leaf collection crews visit areas with younger trees first, followed by areas with more mature trees. Crews will visit each zone only once as they need to prepare equipment for snow clearing. The estimated collection schedule for 2024 is:

• October 28 to November 2: zones W6, W8, E5, E7 and E8
• November 4 to November 9: zones W1, W7, E4 and E6
• November 11 to November 16: zones W3, W4, E2 and E3
• November 18 to November 23: 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:

Stacey Abbott
Manager, Corporate Communications
Stacey.Abbott@waterloo.ca