Waterloo residents encouraged to look at all the options to manage their leaves

The City of Waterloo’s loose leaf collection program starts Monday, November 1, and we would like to remind residents of the guidelines for this service, as well as the many other options available for managing leaves.

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 their local collection is scheduled. Leaves should only be raked to the curb a few days before collection starts, and storm drains, sidewalks and bike lanes should be kept free of leaves.

For remaining leaves, residents can either take advantage of the Region’s biweekly yard waste program (collecting November 8-12, and November 22-26 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, one 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 get tidied up when prepping gardens 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 street leaves will run until the week of November 22 to 27. 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 2021 is:

• November 1 to  November 6 zones: W6, W8, E8, E7
• November 8 to  November 13 zones: W1, W7, E5, E6
• November 15 to  November 20 zones: W3, W4, E3, E4
• November 22 to November 27 zones: W2, W5, E1, E2

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