2024-2025 Leaf Pickup Schedule

*Weather permitting

The Development & Public Works Department is committed to maintaining the City infrastructure, protecting property from flooding and storm damage, and improving water quality in our rivers and streams. To help with these efforts the City of Springfield provides a free leaf pickup service to residents.

How to Collect Leaves for Pickup

• Sanipac is contracted to pick up, haul, and recycle BAGGED LEAVES for residents within the City limits.
• Collect leaves in medium-sized garbage bags.
• Gather ONLY leaves in bags. If bags contain other yard debris they can’t be used for compost and will not be picked up.
• Place bags at the curbside, not in the street, by 7 a.m. Monday of the week your neighborhood is scheduled for pick up.

Not all bags will be picked up first thing Monday; it may take several days. Severe weather may cause delays. Your patience is appreciated if weather conditions and the volume of leaf bags result in us running behind schedule. We make every effort to get to your neighborhood during your scheduled week.

If you live within the city limits of Springfield, grass, branches, limbs, or other debris may not be deposited in the street or the right-of-way. Please follow the specific guidelines for where you live.

PLEASE DO NOT BLOW YOUR LEAVES INTO THE STREET. Per Springfield City code, it is illegal to place debris in the right-of-way (City Code violation 5.272).

Other Ways to Dispose Leaves

• Mulch or Compost to help your garden grow!
  Add leaves to your compost pile. Leaves and other high carbon material should make up ¾ of your compost pile or shred them for mulch to protect plants from winter frost.
• Use your yard debris container!
  If you have a grey yard debris container from Sanipac, place your leaves in your container and set out your container on the scheduled day for yard debris. Sanipac will then pick them up and recycle them for you.

The Benefits of the City’s Policy

Our program promotes public safety by keeping leaves out of bike lanes, streets, and sidewalks. Large piles can also be considered a nuisance by City Code. Piles of leaves on the side of the road can be very hazardous, examples include:

• Vehicles may swerve out of their lane to avoid piles of leaves.
• Dangerous items may be covered up inside piles (large rocks, bicycles, etc.)
• An attractive nuisance for children to play in.
• Forces bicycle commuters into the travel lane of vehicles.

We appreciate everyone’s ongoing participation in this annual event. Thank you!