The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will begin its annual leaf vacuuming program on Monday, Nov. 10, continuing collections throughout December, in specified areas. There will be two collections scheduled within each collection district.    

Before collection begins in a neighborhood, MCDOT will post signs along streets with the upcoming leaf vacuuming date and the online leaf collection website for additional information.  

Residents are asked to pile leaves at the edge of their yard or curb — not in the street, bike lanes, or on sidewalks. Leaves in these areas can disrupt traffic, pose a safety hazard for cyclists and pedestrians, negatively impact stormwater drainage, and become a fire hazard for automobiles parked over them.   

“The program was developed to keep leaves out of storm gutters, which clog the drains and cause drainage issues and then freeze over the winter months,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We offer this service in watershed areas that flow directly into County waterways. It is important that we take care of water sources because they directly impact our health and quality of life.” 

Since 1983, the County has composted the leaves it collects at a County-operated facility in Dickerson. The compost produces a fertilizer called Leafgro, which is sold in retail stores. Profits feed back into the program to keep costs low. 

It is important that no extra debris is mixed into the leaves that are vacuumed as they are composted and recycled as fertilizer. Plastic contamination can result in unusable compost. Tree branches, coarse garden debris, sticks, and branches should be placed in containers or tied in bundles no more than four feet long and set out for recycling pick up.  

“Last leafing season, crews collected more than 90,000 cubic yards of leaves,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “Our Highway Services crew are responsible for keeping the 63,000 storm drains on public roads in Montgomery County free of yard waste and debris that can clog drainage systems and cause flooding, and the leaf vacuuming service is a critical part of that strategy. The leaves and yard trim collected by the County last year produced more than 37,000 tons of Leafgro, which is sold at major retailers in five states and Washington, DC.” 

Residents who miss the two scheduled vacuum collections, or who do not live within the leaf vacuuming area, can 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. Another option is to mow fallen leaves into the yard to allow them to compost naturally or to compost them in a bin on your property. 

Leaves placed in plastic bags will not be accepted. Residents may also bring properly bagged leaves to the Shady Grove Transfer Station. Compost bins are available on the My Green Montgomery webpage.  

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 311 online or by calling 311 Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. from inside the County, or calling 240-777-0311 from outside the County. The number for MD Relay is 711 or use the toll-free/out-of-state number at 1-800-735-2258.   

Visit the Montgomery County Leaf Vacuum Program webpage for more information.  

For information on MCDOT programs and services, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on  Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, X, and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.      

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