Nov 4 - Jan 24 | DC Leaf and Holiday Tree Collection for Ward 7 and Ward 8

The fall leaf collection program runs from November 4 through January 24. Please rake your loose leaves into your tree box (or at the curb if there is no tree box) the Sunday before your scheduled collection week. Every street will have two scheduled collection weeks. Our crews will only come once during each scheduled week. Residents can sign up for the MyDPW app to receive custom alerts for when leaf collection is scheduled for their street. The alert will remind residents the Friday prior to their scheduled collection week, and it will alert residents if leaf collection is delayed or suspended on their street.

Each year DPW collects and composts between five and seven thousand tons of loose leaves. Unfortunately, bagged leaves placed where your trash is collected are not composted and will be picked up as space in our trucks permits.

As winter approaches, the DC Snow Team may be called upon to clear our city's streets. When this happens, our leaf collection trucks will stop collecting leaves and be outfitted with snow plows and salt spreaders. Once the weather improves, the trucks are cleaned and outfitted to resume leaf operations. This process can take several days. Delays can also be expected when leaves are wet or frozen, as such conditions hamper our equipment's ability to function properly. We appreciate residents' patience and understanding when Mother Nature interferes with leaf collections.

Holiday trees and greenery will be collected between January 14 and February 2. Residents in DPW-serviced households should place their trees and greenery where their trash and recyclables are normally collected. Trees and greenery collected during these three weeks (and those brought to the Fort Totten and Benning Road transfer stations) will be composted and made available to residents for free. When you set your treens and greenery out for collection, please remove all ornaments and lights; do not put trees and greenery in a bag. After February 2, place holiday trees and greenery where your trash is collected. They will be picked up with your trash as space in our trucks permits. Unfortunately, trees and greenery collected after February 2 will not be composted.

As a reminder, DPW does not provide collection services for apartment and condominium buildings with four or more units. Owners and managers of these properties are required to provide their tenants with solid waste collections (this includes leaves and holiday trees/greenery).