Public Works provides biweekly leaf collection, which alternates with recycling pickup and is on the same week as brush, garden trimmings, and $25-per-loader-bucket bulk pickup, and fall leaf collection, which typically takes place between November 1 and December 31. More information on biweekly leaf collection and fall leaf collection is included below.

Collection schedules are subject to change, due to inclement weather and staffing. Leaves are not collected on municipal holidays. Public Works will post additional information prior to each holiday. Click here to download the Leaf, Brush, Trimmings, & Bulk Pickup 2024 Calendar.

Solid Waste Program customers are charged a monthly cart fee to participate in the program. Click here to view more information on utility fees. The Solid Waste Program also funds various locations for customers to drop off recycling, leaves, brush, garden trimmings, bulk, electronics, and household hazardous waste through the Citizen Convenience Center, Drop Box Recycling Program, Self-Service Electronics Recycling, and Household Hazardous Waste disposal events.

Fall Leaf Collection (November to December)

Public Works crews typically collect leaves using brush pickup equipment and leaf vacuums in late fall between November 1 and December 31. Fall leaf collection is separate from biweekly leaf, brush, garden trimmings, and $25-per-loader-bucket bulk pickup. The fall leaf collection schedule will be made available prior to the start of the collection. Click here to view a PDF with this information.

Public Works uses an interactive map on the Leaves webpage to update the status of the fall leaf collection as crews progress. If leaves fall in a short time frame or if snow plowing is required, fall leaf collection may be delayed. The map will be made available during the collection.

Interactive Map

This map shows the status of leaf pick up and allows users to search their address. The seasonal leaf collection schedule will be made available prior to the start of the collection. Click here to view a PDF with this information. Use the search bar to search your address. Below the search bar, use the filter button to filter pick up status and address. Click here to view a larger version of the map in a new window.

Acceptable & Unacceptable Materials

Leaves are the only acceptable material in this category. Leaves should be separated from all other materials. If Brush (trees, shrubs, and bushes) and/or Garden trimmings (flowers, plants, fruit trimmings, vegetable trimmings, and pumpkins) are mixed with leaves, they will not be collected.

Do's & Don'ts

The do’s and don’ts listed below are additional requirements to improve safety, efficiency, and cost. Any materials placed out for pickup that do not follow these requirements will be picked up, but the customer will be billed for the entire cost of the pickup. Some exceptions apply. Click here to download a PDF with this information.

1. During fall leaf collection, please place leaves behind the curb as soon as possible, as crews may start the next collection area earlier than anticipated.
2. Leaves must be placed behind the curb, not in the street, in piles no higher than 3 feet. Leaves may not be placed in containers or biodegradable bags during fall leaf collection.
3. Brush (trees, shrubs, and bushes), garden trimmings (flowers, plants, fruit and vegetable trimmings and pumpkins), and bulk must be in separate piles and separated from leaves. Piles of leaves that include garbage, brush, garden trimmings, bulk or any other type of waste will not be collected.
4. Leaves placed in the street can create a hazard for children who may play in the leaves, cause a traffic crash, or cause sanitary sewer or storm water infrastructure issues, including sewer backups. In addition,  covering manholes, water valves, and inlets with leaves or other debris creates a safety hazard for City crews and the public. When raking leaves, make sure that leaves are in the parkway, not in the street, and that manholes, water valves, or inlets are clear. Any issues caused by leaves placed in the street are the liability of the homeowner.

When raking leaves, make sure not to cover manholes or water valves because they need to be visible at all times. Covering manholes and water valves with leaves or other debris creates a safety hazard for City crews and the public. In addition, make sure not to cover inlets with leaves. Clogged inlets pose a challenge, particularly in the fall, as debris falls into and blows into them. Clogged inlets are addressed in three ways: 

1. The Streets and Sewers Division of Public Works sends out crews to clean storm inlets.
2. The Solid Waste Division of Public Works sweeps over them as part of the street sweeping process.
3. Citizens pitch in by refraining from raking into the street. During the leaf season, leaves should be left in a row along the parkway next to the street. Also, residents clear out drains themselves. The City appreciates the effort. Given our staffing level and other needs for work, keeping up on sewer inlet work is a massive task.

Biweekly Leaf Collection

Public Works provides biweekly leaf collection, which alternates with recycling pickup and is on the same week as brush, garden trimmings, and $25-per-loader-bucket bulk pickup.

Acceptable & Unacceptable Materials

Leaves are the only acceptable material in this category. Leaves should be separated from all other materials. If Brush (trees, shrubs, and bushes) and/or Garden trimmings (flowers, plants, fruit trimmings, vegetable trimmings, and pumpkins) are mixed with leaves, they will not be collected.

Do's & Don'ts

The do’s and don’ts listed below are additional requirements to improve safety, efficiency, and cost. Any materials placed out for collection that do not follow these requirements will be picked up, but the customer will be billed for the entire cost of the collection. Click here to download a PDF with this information.

1. During spring and fall free bulk pickups or biweekly leaf collection, leaves may be placed in biodegradable bags, in piles (less than 3 feet tall), or in containers (less than 33 gal. and less than 35 lbs.). Leaves are not accepted in bags or containers during the fall leaf collection that typically takes place from November 1 to December 31.
2. Only materials generated by the resident will be collected by City crews. Commercial waste is not acceptable.
3. Materials must be placed in the parkway (typically the area between the sidewalk and the curb) or at the end of the driveway near the street (especially if cars park along the street during the day) no earlier than 2 p.m. on the day prior to scheduled collection and no later than 6 a.m. on the day of collection.
4. Materials must be placed at least 4 feet from garbage or recycling carts, other solid waste materials (including brush, garden trimmings, and bulk), trees, poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, inlets, utility infrastructure, power lines, or other objects, and at least 10 feet away from vehicle parked in the street.

Composting Resources

Yard Waste Composting

The Ecology Action Center, Town of Normal, and City of Bloomington all invite residents to explore new, easy-to-use backyard composting instructions found at www.CompostBN.org. Backyard composting is an easy way to recycle yard waste into valuable, soil-improving, organic material. A new instructional flyer lists three simple steps to get started composting—it’s that easy. Click here to view the flyer.

Backyard composting is an easy and natural process that allows for recycling of natural materials into nutrient rich compost. It not only helps conserve natural resources, improve your garden, and reduce the direct costs of solid waste management, it also helps improve air quality. Proper composting of natural materials prevents the generation of harmful methane gas that is created when natural materials are landfilled instead, where little to nothing can break down. In addition, less yard waste to be picked up curbside means less truck emissions on residential streets and better air quality for all.

From compost bins designed and built in-house, to expert troubleshooting, to guidance on use of finished compost, the Ecology Action Center professional staff is available to support your composting effort. The EAC’s composting workshops and other in-person educational offerings will resume in later reopening phases. Meanwhile, visit www.ecologyactioncenter.org for more information, or to order low-cost but durable composters. Local residential delivery fees are currently waived in order to maximize access to a pre-made composter for those who want one.

Community Composting

Do you want to compost but don’t want to deal with the mess? Do you want to use compostable food packaging from your favorite local restaurant but know it’s not compostable in a backyard compost pile? Maybe you live in an apartment and don’t have anyplace to compost. Easy residential composting service is now available through a unique drop-off program using a kiosk with key-card access. The program is sponsored, in part, by the Ecology Action Center. Residents can sign up for the service through the purchase of a Kiosk Starter Kit. The Starter Kit includes a 5-gallon bucket, educational materials, a 30-pack of compostable liners, and your kiosk access card.  When you run out of liners, you can purchase a refill, which includes another 30 liners and covers composting costs. For more information about this program, visit: www.BNCommunityComposting.org.

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