(Washington, DC) -  The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) will kick off leaf collection season, Monday, November 7. Street sweeping services will be suspended beginning Friday, November 4, to allow staff to transition to leaf collection season, which will run from November 7 to January 14. Street sweeping is scheduled to resume March 1, 2017.

2016-2017 Leaf Collection Season Begins Monday, November 7
Leaf collection season runs from November 7, 2016 through January 14, 2017, during which time DPW will make two one-week passes in each neighborhood. To prepare for their collection date, residents are asked to rake their leaves into the treebox (area surrounding the curbside trees or between the sidewalk and the curb) near their home or place bagged leaves (paper bags are encouraged) in the treebox. Residents also may place bagged leaves where their trash/recycling are collected. Loose and bagged leaves placed in treeboxes will be composted. Bagged leaves placed where trash and recycling are collected also will be composted.

“We ask people to please check the schedule for when their leaves will be collected and then rake their leaves into the treeboxes the Sunday before their collection cycles start to make sure all leaves are collected,” said DPW Director Shorter.

Leaves will be removed from neighborhoods at least twice, following the schedule that can be found at Find the Leaf Collection Schedule for Your Neighborhood on the DPW Website, www.dpw.dc.gov. Residents who receive DPW trash and recycling collection services will receive a copy of the leaf collection schedule in the mail or go to Leaf Collection Brochure.

Residents should note that the same crews that collect leaves also remove snow, so leaf collection may be interrupted for snow removal duties.

During the last two weeks of leaf collection season (January 2-13), DPW will collect holiday trees and other greenery from residents whose trash is collected by DPW.  Trees and greenery should be placed where the resident’s trash is collected. Please remove all ornaments and lights and do not put the tree(s) and greenery in a bag. Trees and greenery collected during these two weeks will be composted and be made available to residents, free of charge, in the spring.

Residential Street Sweeping Ended Monday, October 31,
Weekly residential Mechanical Street cleaning will end for the season Friday, November 4, 2016. “No Parking/Street Cleaning” restrictions will be lifted and motorists may park on posted, alternate-side, daytime sweeping routes without moving their cars on street-cleaning days.  All other parking restrictions will remain in effect.  Residential street sweeping will resume Wednesday, March 1, 2016, weather permitting.

Residential street sweeping is suspended for public safety concerns and to allow DPW employees to transition to leaf collection duties, which start November 7.  The sweepers release a fine spray of water to control dust as they sweep. When the temperature is at freezing or below, the spray can freeze and cause hazards for vehicles and pedestrians.

Overnight sweeping along the District’s major roadways, e.g., Pennsylvania, Georgia, Constitution, and Independence Avenues, will continue all winter, as weather permits. Motorists should obey the street sweeping signs posted along these and other streets where sweeping occurs.