City of Cambridge
2020 Leaf Collection Program
The fall leaf pickup begins in October and continues on a weekly basis according to the schedule below. City residents are encouraged to follow the 4-Step Leaf Collection Program outlined below to properly collect and dispose of leaves throughout the City.
Follow the 4-steps to Fall Leaf Pickup
STEP 1: Be a resident that’s actively participating in the City’s trash collection program. It’s a must! Contact the Department of Public Works (DPW) at 410-228-1955 if you’re not already an active participant.
STEP 2: Bag your leaves using 30-gallon trash bags. Residents are allowed to dispose of up to 10 leaf bags per residence per week.
STEP 3: Call DPW the Friday prior to be placed on the list for the upcoming pickup day (410-228-1955). Let the City know that you’re putting in time doing yard work that weekend and your bagged leaves will be on the curb ready for pickup.
STEP 4: Follow this schedule for leaf pickup. The pickup schedule is divided into Wards – check this map to see what Ward you live in. Place your leaf bags on the curb (not in the street) the night before your scheduled pickup.
- MONDAYS: Wards 1, 2 and 3
- TUESDAYS: Wards 4, and 5
Don’t:
DON’T put items other than leaves in the leaf bags. The City will not pick up leaf bags containing weeds, grass, sticks, trash, etc. If your leaf bags contain anything other than leaves, it’s no longer a leaf bag, and they will be left at the curb and you must dispose of them. The pickup is for leaves only!
DON’T put leaves in the street or other areas where they can obstruct the flow of water. Residents are prohibited from placing leaves in gutters, ditches or streets.
Tips:
Shredding leaves with a mower will save time and money. Mulching is faster and easier on the back than raking. It’s also easier on the wallet (no bags needed). The decomposing leaves and grass cover the soil between the individual grass plants where weeds can germinate. Studies have found that homeowners can attain a nearly 100% decrease in dandelions and crabgrass after mulching leaves for three years. Mulched leaves keep the soil warmer in winter and cooler in summer and the nutrients provided by mulching reduce the amount of fertilizer needed to achieve a green lawn in the spring.
Sec. 16-9. - Depositing debris in gutters or sidewalks.
No person shall deposit in the gutters or streets any ashes, leaves or other debris or material which might or could obstruct the free flow of water.
This notice is provided by DPW and the Cambridge Clean Water Advisory Committee. If you have any questions, contact the Department of Public Works at 410-228-1955
