UPDATE (11/11/2020): University City District (UCD) is offering bagged leaf collection this Saturday, Nov. 14. University City residents must place bagged leaves in brown, biodegradable paper bags on their street corners for pickup after 1 p.m. Sign up your block by either email (cleanandsafe@universitycity.org), or by calling UCD at 215-243-0555.

The Streets Department’s annual Fall Leaf Recycling Program will kick off Monday, Nov. 9 and run through Saturday, Dec. 19. Residents are encouraged to participate in bagged leaf drop-off at specially designated locations or mechanical leaf collection (or both). 

The program helps reduce the amount of materials that reach the waste stream. During this six-week program, leaves will be collected for composting purposes, like fertilizing gardens and nourishing trees.

Bagged Leaf Drop-off

Bagged leaf drop-off will be offered citywide on Saturdays (except for Nov. 14 and 28) at 13 designated locations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the duration of the program.

The locations for West Philadelphia are:

• 54th & Woodbine Avenue
• 43rd & Powelton Avenue

Bagged leaves will only be accepted in biodegradable paper bags. These bags can be processed for recycling along with the leaves, which reduces contamination in the recycling process. Please do not mix trash or other recyclable materials with bagged leaves.

Use as many bags as needed, maximum 40 lbs. each. You can buy them at stores like Lowe’s or at your local hardware store.

Bagged leaves may also be taken to any of the Sanitation Convenience Centers, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.. The locations in West and Southwest Philadelphia are:

• 3033 S. 63rd St. (63rd & Passyunk Ave.)
• 5100 Grays Ave.

Mechanical Leaf Collection 

Mechanical leaf collection will be provided as a supplement in areas known to have a heavy accumulation of leaves. The mechanical leaf collection operation will include leaf blowers, mechanical sweepers, and leaf loaders. Mechanical leaf collection crews will concentrate their efforts in designated boundaries each week. The schedule for West Philadelphia is the following:

Monday, Nov. 16 

• 72nd to 66th Streets, from Malvern Avenue to City Avenue
• 66th to 63rd Streets, from Malvern Avenue to City Avenue

Tuesday, Nov. 17 

• 63rd to 58th Streets, from Upland Way to City Avenue
• 58th to 54th Streets, from Upland Way to City Avenue

Wednesday, Nov. 18 

• Belmont Avenue to Lenape Road, from City Avenue to Sorrento Street & Conshohocken Avenue
• Ford Road to Conshohocken Avenue, from Monument Road to Falls Road

Thursday, Nov. 19 

• 54th Street to 49th Street, from Wynnefield Avenue to City Avenue
• Wynnefield Avenue to Columbia Avenue, from 54th Street to Parkside Avenue

Friday, Nov. 20 

• 38th to 52nd Streets from Baltimore Avenue to Spruce Street

All leaves should be raked and ready for collection by 7:00 a.m. the day of mechanical collection. Rake leaves into the street by the curb’s edge (piling is not necessary). If possible, move your vehicle to an off-street parking location on your scheduled collection day, so crews can remove leaves along the curb line.

Residents in mechanical areas can also drop-off bagged leaves.

Collection crews will visit routes only once. Residents are urged to sweep and bag any remaining leaves and take them to any of the set out for collection on trash day or take to any bagged drop-off locations or Sanitation Convenience Center. There will be no mechanical leaf collection on a City holiday.

For more information, visit: http://www.philadelphiastreets.com/leaves or call 311.