Autumn officially began on September 23, and the weather’s already started cooling off. Leaves will be changing — and falling — before you can say “American Dogwood.” In anticipation for the falling foliage, the city is kicking off its leaf pickup services on Monday, Oct. 2.
Bagged leaves will be picked up curbside along with trash. Up to 10 bags can be set out at a time, and biodegradable bags are preferred. Need to dispose of more than 10 bags? There will be certain days set aside for unlimited bag pickups.
If you’d rather take care of your leaves yourself, a compost bin can be purchased from Public Works for $41.50. The city also offers three free drop-off centers on East Richmond Road, Maury Street, and North Hopkins Road.
Bonus: You can score free biodegradable leaf bags and countertop compost bins while supplies last at the city’s E-Cycle Day on Saturday, Sept. 30. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 1710 Robin Hood Road.
Fall foliage will likely peak in mid October.
Photo by @ginter.park
Starting on Nov. 6, the city will also offer a vacuum option for leaf pickup. This service, available by request, costs $30 per pickup. Rocks, sticks, and any other potentially damaging material should be removed from the leaf pile prior to pickup, and the leaves will be gone within 15 days of the request. Requests can be made online, or by calling 311.
Neither Henrico nor Chesterfield has released their plans for this season’s leaf collection yet. In years past, however, Henrico has started both bagged leaf pickups and vacuum collection in early November. In Hanover, unbagged leaves are accepted year-round at the Mechanicsville Courthouse and Elmont Convenience Centers, as well as the Route 301 Transfer Station.