Curbside Leaf Collection Begins Oct. 21 in Dearborn

Editor's note: This article was submitted by the city of Dearborn.

As leaves begin falling from the trees, Dearborn residents are reminded of the numerous ways the city offers to dispose of them.

The preferred method is for residents to put their leaves in approved yard waste paper bags or approved 20-32 gallon containers labeled as yard waste. The containers or paper bags should be put on the easement by 7 a.m. for pickup each week on residents’ trash day.

By putting bagged or containerized leaves on the easement for pickup on trash days, residents can count on their leaves being removed each week. This method does not require residents to remember the schedule for loose leaf collection.

Leaves in plastic bags or in cardboard boxes will not be picked up.

An alternative method is loose leaf collection. Collection of leaves that are raked into the street is scheduled to begin the week of Oct. 21 and end the week of Dec. 2, with the last pick up on Dec. 7. Weather conditions may alter that timeline.

Leaves raked into the street are not picked up every week. Crews aim for two pickups during the season in every neighborhood.

Leaves picked up on non-recycling weeks

Leaves that are raked in the street are picked up on a neighborhood’s Public Service Day/trash collection during the non-recycling week.

There will not be a leaf pickup every time your neighborhood is on a non-recycling week. Leaves in the street may only be picked up twice in every neighborhood during the season. Residents can use the non-recycling week as a guideline. Only rake leaves into the street on the day before your trash is picked up on a non-recycling week.

For example, if you recycling on the “A” schedule, your leaves could be picked up during the “B” week. If you recycling on a “B” schedule, your leaves could be picked up during the “A” week.

It may take several weeks to complete a whole Public Service Day/trash day district.

Schedule beginning Oct. 21

On Oct. 21, crews will be in neighborhoods with Monday trash collection and an “A” week recycling schedule. Crews may not finish the whole section that day.

On Oct. 22, crews will be in neighborhoods with Tuesday trash collection and an “A” week recycling schedule.

The pattern will continue through Oct. 25.

On Oct. 28, crews will be in neighborhoods with Monday trash collection and a “B” week recycling schedule.

On Oct. 29, crews will be in neighborhoods with Tuesday trash collection and a “B” week recycling schedule.

The pattern will continue for “B” week districts through Nov. 1.

Crews may not be able to pick up all the loose leaves in a neighborhood on the designated Public Service Day. They will return to that section on the next trash day that is on a non-recycling week. When they return to the area, they will pick up where they left off.

Don’t rake leaves into the street too early

Raking leaves into the street too soon leads to dangerous driving conditions. Leaves also may blow around the neighborhood.  

Contractors paid by residents to rake leaves must follow the same rules. In addition, vehicles must be removed from the streets from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a neighborhood’s Public Service Day.

Following this process makes it easier for crews to pick up leaves and keeps streets clean and safe.