SUPPLEMENTAL LOOSE LEAF COLLECTION STARTS OCTOBER 28
(Charleston, W. Va.) – The City of Charleston Public Works Department reminds residents they can bag leaves and set them out on their normal trash day or rake leaves to the edge of the street to be picked up as part of supplemental loose leaf collection, beginning October 28, 2024. The end of supplemental loose leaf collection will be determined by the weather as the trucks used for leaf collection are also used for snow removal.
Answers to common questions are included below.
Q: When will Supplemental Loose Leaf Collection start and end in 2024?
A: Weather conditions permitting, supplemental collection will begin Monday, October 28, 2024. Since the trucks used for leaf collection are also used for salt spreading and snow/ice plowing, the end of supplemental leaf collection is weather dependent.
Q: What is Supplemental Loose Leaf Collection?
A: Supplemental Loose Leaf Collection is a courtesy service the Street Department offers to the citizens of Charleston which allows residents to rake their leaves to the edge of the street for pick up by the Street Department, weather permitting.
Due to the volume of leaves being put out, residents can expect their leaves to be collected once or twice a season, weather dependent. Alternately, residents can bag their leaves and place them at the curb with their regular trash. There is no limit when leaves are bagged.
It is important to note, the trucks used for leaf collection are also the ones used for salt spreading and snow/ice plowing. Switching out the leaf boxes for salt spreaders, or vice versa, is a tedious process. Therefore, when snow/ice is forecasted, it's the Street Department’s practice to keep the salt spreaders on until our team is confident the winter weather event has passed.
Q: What do I do with the fallen leaves in my yard?
A: You can either bag the leaves and put them out on your regular trash day OR you can rake the leaves to the edge of the street to be picked up as part of a supplemental service our Public Works Department provides (aka Supplemental Loose Leaf Collection) to residents in Charleston.
Q: If I choose to participate in the Supplemental Loose Leaf Collection service provided by the Public Works Department, when will my leaves be picked up?
A: Weather permitting, Supplemental Loose Leaf Collection will generally take place in:
- Kanawha City on Monday and Tuesday
- South Hills on Wednesday and Thursday
- West Side, North Charleston and East End on Friday
Although crews may be working in the area on the specified day of the week, this does not guarantee leaf collection at a specific residence on that day. Due to the volume of leaves being put out, residents can expect their leaves to be collected once or twice a season, weather dependent.
Additionally, loose leaves must be raked to the edge of the street to be picked up. Leaves raked into alleyways will not be picked up.
Q: Why should I pick up the leaves in my yard?
A: It is important to collect/bag fallen leaves before they move into our storm drains and ditch lines. Leaves could cause blockages that ultimately lead to localized flooding and damaged infrastructure.
Q: Can I request loose leaf collection at my residence like I do bulk-item pick-up?
A: Crews work very hard to collect the leaves along their routes. Because Supplemental Loose Leaf Collection routes work differently than trash collection routes – there are no “missed” pick-ups. Requests are handled on a case-by-case basis. Due to the nature of the routes, crews may not have the ability to accommodate loose leaf collection requests.
Q: Can my leaves be collected with my trash on trash day?
A: Yes—so long as the leaves are bagged and set out with the trash. If you have raked your leaves to the edge of the street, they will be collected as part of Supplemental Loose Leaf Collection.
Q: Is there a limit to the number of bags of loose leaves I can place curbside on my trash pick-up day?
A: No.
Q: Does the city provide bags for leaf collection?
A: If you choose to bag your leaves to put out with your regular trash, you must provide your own bags. However, bagging leaves is not required for Supplemental Loose Leaf Collection. Loose leaves just need to be raked to the edge of the street to be picked up.
