DC Leaf Collection Starts November 2nd: How to Find Your Section

DC public works employees gather leaves beside a collection truck.

DC leaf collection is scheduled to begin Monday, November 2nd, as Washington prepares its 2026–2027 seasonal program. The mayor’s office announced the start date ahead of an October 19th kickoff, highlighting the role of residents in keeping leaves out of storm drains and helping turn organic material into compost.

The practical first step is to find your collection section. The Department of Public Works’ Leaf Tracker uses an address to identify the relevant area across the District’s eight wards. Each ward is divided into sections A through D, so a ward number alone does not tell a household when to prepare its leaves.

DPW’s estimated first-pass windows are November 2nd–15th for Section A, November 16th–29th for Section B, November 30th–December 13th for Section C, and December 14th–28th for Section D. A second pass follows after the first is complete, weather permitting. Treat those windows as planning guidance and check the department’s weekly notices for the actual instruction to rake.

The department asks residents to rake on the Sunday before their scheduled collection week. Put leaves in the treebox, or at the curb in front of the home if there is no treebox. Paper bags are accepted; plastic bags are not. Updates are available through MyDPW, the stakeholder newsletter and the Leaf Line at 202-671-5323.

The mayor’s announcement frames the program as both neighborhood upkeep and waste diversion. Collecting leaves helps prevent blocked storm drains while supporting composting. For households deciding what to do this week, the useful task is to check their section and arrange to receive updates, rather than assuming every street starts on November 2nd.

These instructions apply to Washington, DC; residents in Baltimore and other jurisdictions should consult their own local schedules. For continuing regional service and community reporting, visit PowerPage’s local coverage. The official DPW leaf page remains the place to check the latest collection guidance before setting material out.