The City of Waterloo has released its 2026 schedule for the optional loose leaf collection, a service intended for leaves from street trees that have been raked to the boulevard. Collection will run for four weeks, beginning Monday, Oct. 26, and finishing the week of Nov. 16–21.
How the program will run
City crews will visit each zone only once. The municipal release notes crews will begin in neighbourhoods with smaller and younger trees and work toward areas with older trees as November progresses. The schedule is subject to change depending on weather conditions.
- Collection is for street tree leaves placed on the boulevard only; private property or backyard piles are not included.
- Crews will pass through each zone a single time — residents should place leaves to the curb a few days before their area’s scheduled week.
- The city encourages residents to consider alternatives, such as mulching with a lawn mower, which benefits soil and pollinators.
"leaving the leaves"
The city’s advice to "leave the leaves" is offered as an environmental option: running over fallen leaves with a lawn mower can create mulch that enriches soil and provides habitat and nourishment for pollinating insects.
Schedule at a glance
The collection is organised by zone across four weekly blocks. Below is the schedule provided by the City of Waterloo:
| Week | Dates | Zones |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Oct. 26 – 31 | W6, W8, E5, E7, E8 |
| Week 2 | Nov. 2 – 7 | W1, W7, E4, E6 |
| Week 3 | Nov. 9 – 14 | W3, W4, E2, E3 |
| Week 4 | Nov. 16 – 21 | W2, W5, E1 |
Residents who are unsure which zone they live in or who need further details about the program can visit the City of Waterloo’s website for maps and additional guidance.
The loose leaf collection is one of several seasonal services municipalities offer to manage debris from urban trees. Because crews will pass through each area only once, timely placement of leaves at the curb will help ensure they are picked up during the scheduled week.
