The Department of Sanitation collects fallen leaves for composting, which reduces the amount of waste that goes to landfill. The City performs mechanical leaf collection in certain areas with heavy leaf accumulation. You can also drop off bagged leaves at sanitation convenience centers or at collection events throughout the city.
The department takes collected leaves to the Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center. Small quantities of the resulting compost and mulch are available for free to Philadelphia residents.
Residents can also put bagged leaves out with normal trash, but these leaves will not be composted.
Leaf collection season
The 2024 Philly Leaf Recycling Program begins Monday, November 4, and ends Saturday, December 21, 2024.
2024 bagged leaf drop-off events
During the seven-week program, you can drop off bagged leaves at 13 locations across the city during the scheduled times.
Bagged leaf drop-off dates and times
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Saturday, November 9 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, November 23 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, December 7 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, December 14 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, December 21 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
Bagged leaf drop-off locations
| Drop-off location | Area of Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| 1400 Cottman Ave. (Jardel Recreation Center) | Northeast |
| S. 15th St. and Bigler St. | South |
| N. 43rd St. and Powelton Ave. (drop off on sidewalk of 4200 Powelton Ave., close to 43rd St.) | West |
| 4800 Wayne Ave. (Happy Hollow Recreation Center) | Northwest |
| N. 54th St. and Woodbine Ave. | West |
| 7901 Ridgeway St. (Fox Chase Recreation Center) | Northeast |
| N. American St. and W. Thompson St. | North |
| S. Broad St. and Christian St. (drop off at southwest corner sidewalk) | South |
| Castor Ave. and Foulkrod St. (drop off at northeast corner sidewalk) | Frankford |
| E. Cathedral Rd. and Ridge Ave. | Northwest |
| Corinthian Ave. and Poplar St. | North |
| W. Gravers Ln. and Seminole St. | Northwest |
| Washington Ln. and Ardleigh St. (drop off at northwest corner sidewalk) | Northwest |
Tips for bagged leaf drop-off
- Residents must place leaves in large brown biodegradable paper bags.
- Yard waste (such as brush and tree limbs) will not be accepted.
- Do not mix trash or other recyclable materials with bagged leaves.
2024 mechanical leaf collection
The date ranges for neighborhoods included in mechanical leaf collection are:
| Collection week | Neighborhood |
|---|---|
| Monday, Nov. 4–Friday, Nov. 8 | Oak Lane and Frankford |
| Monday, Nov. 11–Friday, Nov. 15 | West Philadelphia |
| Monday, Nov. 18–Friday, Nov. 22 | Northeast Philadelphia |
| Monday, Nov. 25–Friday, Nov. 29 | Northeast Philadelphia |
| Monday, Dec. 2–Friday, Dec. 6 | South Philadelphia |
| Monday, Dec. 9–Friday, Dec. 13 | Northwest Philadelphia |
| Monday, Dec. 16–Friday, Dec. 20 | Northwest Philadelphia |
Tips for mechanical leaf collection
- Rake leaves into the street by 7 a.m. on the collection day for your area.
- Do not bag or pile the leaves.
- Move your vehicle to an off-street parking location on your scheduled collection day, if possible.
Map of drop-off events and mechanical collection
Enter your address to search the map. If you live within a mechanical collection area, select the shaded portion of the map to learn your pickup date. If you’re outside a mechanical collection area, take your bagged leaves to one of the drop-off locations.
- Mechanical Service Areas
- Bagged Leaf Drop-Off