Arlington Prepares Leaf Vacuum Collection; One-Day Pumpkin Recycling On Nov. 6

ARLINGTON, VA — Unusually warm weather in September and October has delayed a change in colors of leaves. Experts are predicting that Arlington and other parts of Northern Virginia will reach peak fall color in about a week or 10 days.

That’s when Arlington County’s leaf vacuum collection is scheduled to begin, according to the county's Department of Environmental Services. Although few leaves have fallen, the county is expecting that by Nov. 8, enough leaves will be on the ground to justify sending the vacuum trucks down county streets.

Arlington's leaf collection program is scheduled to run from Nov. 8 to Dec. 17. Crews will complete two passes through neighborhoods. Signs will be put up to let residents know the date for each leaf collection. Bright yellow signs will be posted in neighborhoods for the first leaf collection, and bright orange signs will be posted for the second collection date.

Residents are encouraged to rake their leaves to the curb the weekend before the scheduled collection. Leave should not be piled near storm drains or water meter covers. The leaf piles should not include stones, litter, branches, other debris to prevent equipment damage or worker injuries. Also, cars should never be parked on leaf piles due to a potential fire hazard.

Visit Arlington County’s recycling website to see where your neighborhood is on the leaf vacuum collection schedule for the vacuum truck’s the first and second pass. The county also has an interactive map that shows the progress of fall leaf collection.

Leaf vacuum trucks will operate Monday through Saturday, although no leaf collection is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day.

On Saturday, Nov. 6, the county is holding a pumpkin drop-off event at its Earth Productions Recycling Yard. From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, Arlington residents can drop off their pumpkins at 4300 S. 29th Street. The county's Solid Waste Bureau will then compost the pumpkins.

Residents should remove all decorations, candles, paint and other inorganic materials from their pumpkins before dropping them off.

Arlington County also is now offering free paper yard bags to place leaves and other yard waste. When filled, the bags can be placed in the green organics cart or placed on the curb on trash and recycling collection day.

Here are the free bag distribution centers and hours:

Thomas Jefferson, 3501 S. 2nd Street

• Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Langston-Brown Community Center, 2121 N. Culpeper Street

• Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd.

• Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Solid Waste Bureau, 4300 S. 29th Street

• Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Madison Center, 3829 N. Stafford Street

• Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Aurora Hills Library, 735 S. 18th Street

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road

• Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

County-provided paper yards bags will be available through Jan. 14, 2022, while supplies last.