Press Releases - Department of Transportation
MCDOT Leaf Vacuum Collection Begins Nov. 9 and Continues Through Mid-December With Improved System to Check Schedule Online
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, November 4, 2020
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will begin its annual leaf vacuuming starting the week beginning Monday, Nov. 9, with two collections taking place on each leaf collection district street. This year, residents can more easily find the collection schedule online by simply entering a street address.
The leaf vacuum collection district is bounded by I-495; I-270; the Rockville City limits; Norbeck, Bel Pre and Bonifant roads; Northwest Branch Park; and the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County lines.
Before collection begins in a neighborhood, MCDOT will post signs along streets directing residents to the online leaf collection map for collection date information.
Watch this video that talks about the program in more details:
Residents are asked to pile leaves near the street, but off the road. Avoid placing leaves on road shoulders, bike lanes and rain gardens as leaves in these areas can disrupt traffic, negatively impact stormwater drainage, hamper snow removal operations and become a fire hazard for automobiles parked over them. Leaf piles also limit the availability of residential parking and, especially when wet, can pose a hazard for cyclists and pedestrians.
The leaf collection program is restricted to leaves only. Tree branches, coarse garden debris and sticks branches should be placed in containers or tied in bundles no more than four feet long and set out for yard trim recycling pick up.
Residents who miss the two scheduled vacuum collections or who do not live within the leaf vacuuming area can still have their leaves collected by placing them in paper yard trim bags or reusable containers for pick up on their regular recycling and yard trim collection day. Leaves placed in plastic bags will not be accepted. Residents also can bring properly bagged leaves to the Shady Grove Transfer Station. Another option is to mow fallen leaves into the yard to allow them to compost naturally.
MCDOT makes every effort to maintain the collection schedules posted online, weather permitting.
To determine if a property is within the boundaries of the leaf vacuum collection district or to view the collection schedule, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/leafing or contact the Montgomery County Call Center online or by calling 311 from inside the County, calling 240-777-0311 from outside the County or calling TTY at 301-251-4850. The number for MD Relay is 711 or use the toll free/out of state number 1-800-735-2258.
If you would like to add your community to the Leaf Collection Program click here.
Did you know? Leaves collected are stored for a year, then mulched and composted at a facility located in Dickerson, Maryland. It is then packaged and sold as Leafgro® at local hardware and lawncare stores. Profits from sales are put directly back into the leafing program.
Learn more about MCDOT’s Highway Services by following @MontCo_Highways on Twitter, or visit montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-highway.
For transportation information, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, visit the department website at montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, subscribe to MCDOT news releases or subscribe to MCDOT’s ‘Go Montgomery!’ newsletter.
For transportation updates related to COVID-19 health crisis, visit MCDOT’s transportation resource page for COVID-19.
Release ID: 20-208
Media Contact: Hannah Henn 240-777-8389
