Fall Leaf Pickup

The City of Kalamazoo’s 2026 fall leaf collection season runs November 2 through December 12, weather permitting.

Rake leaves to the curb lawn as they fall—as early as possible. You do not need to wait for collection to begin or request a pickup. Keep leaves out of streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, and storm drains.

How Collection Works

Crews will begin on the east side in Zone A, move west through Zones B and C, and repeat that pattern as many times as weather permits.

There are no scheduled collection dates for individual areas. Weather and changing collection conditions make it difficult to predict exactly when crews will reach a particular street. The same crews also handle snow and ice, which take priority when winter weather arrives.

We will provide weekly program updates and add an online collection progress map to this page when it is available. These updates can help you follow crews’ progress throughout the season and see when they are getting close to your area. You can subscribe to this page (click the button below) or download the Recycle Coach app to receive program updates.

December 12 marks the end of the regular collection season. Leaves remaining afterward are considered winter leaves and can be reported using the instructions below.

A map showing zones for 2026 leaf collection, A, B, and C divide the city roughly into thirds moving east to west.

Place leaves on the curb lawn near the street. You can rake them into loose piles or use biodegradable paper bags or cardboard boxes.

  • Keep streets, sidewalks, and bike lanes clear.
  • Keep piles away from storm drains, mailboxes, utility poles, and landscaping.
  • If you do not have a curb lawn, place leaves near the street without blocking the roadway or sidewalk.

Proper placement helps crews collect leaves and keeps routes clear for people walking, biking, and driving.

A diagram with fall colors showing proper placement of leaves for leaf pickup.

The leaf collection program will accept any volume of:

  • Leaves
  • Sticks smaller than four feet long and two inches in diameter
  • Pumpkins and other similar, organic material

Please keep other materials out of leaf piles. 

You can rake leaves to the proper collection area whenever they fall, including before the November collection season begins.

Leaves are also accepted during scheduled September and October yard waste pickups when placed in biodegradable paper bags or cardboard boxes. October is the final month of yard waste collection.

 

During the November 2–December 12 leaf season, City residents can bring leaves to 322 E. Stockbridge Avenue:

  • Monday–Friday: 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
  • Saturday: 8 a.m.–noon

Proof of city residency is required.

If you have leaves remaining after December 12, report them once between December 14 and December 31:

We will record your location. Please do not submit additional reports for the same location or report winter leaves after December 31.

Winter leaves may remain properly placed at the curb until collected. Crews will collect them as soon as weather and winter operations allow, but collection may not happen until April. Keep piles out of the street so snowplows can clear the roadway.

Please do not report missed leaf pickups during the regular collection season. Crews will continue working east to west as conditions allow. Use the winter leaf reporting period for leaves remaining after December 12.

Contact Us

Phone

311

Alternate Phone

(269) 337-8000

Email

311@kalamazoocity.org
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