Dearborn prepares to begin annual loose leaf collection program

Published Oct 22, 2024

The City of Dearborn’s program to dispose of fallen leaves throughout the city is gearing up to start the 2024 fall collection season. Crews will continue loose leaf collection through Dec. 7, 2024.
 
This year, the Department of Public Works is changing its approach by collecting leaves using a street-by-street route. Crews will pick up where they left off the day prior to complete the total collection of leaves in each district before moving on to complete collection in another area of the city. The department anticipates full-service loose leaf collection for the entire city at least twice this year.

Dearborn residents will continue to have the option to leave contained leaves out for pick up on scheduled trash collection days in each neighborhood through the week of Dec. 16, 2024.

Signs will indicate where and when collection will take place

Residents should look for ample signage in each area where crews will be working, The City will post signage in neighborhoods a few days before leaf collection begins and will remove signs once all leaves have been collected from the area. 

To ensure that leaves are ready for collection, residents are advised to rake them into the street as soon as they see that signage has been posted in their neighborhood.
 
Daily collection routes will be posted to the City’s website at Dearborn.gov/Leaves and on the City’s social media accounts @DearbornGov. Updates can also be obtained by calling the Leaf Hotline at 313-943-2444.

Pack leaves in approved containers for weekly collection on area trash days through week of Dec. 16

Residents are strongly encouraged to collect leaves and pack them in paper yard waste bags or 20-32 gallon containers with a City yard waste sticker for weekly collection. Contained leaves must be placed on the property easement for pick up on the weekly neighborhood trash collection day. Leaves in plastic bags and cardboard boxes will not be collected.

Yard stickers must be obtained and adhered to 20-32 gallon containers.  Stickers can be retrieved free of charge by calling 313-943-2150 or visiting the Dearborn Administrative Center, 16901 Michigan Ave.  

Bagged and contained leaves will be collected by the City’s contractor, Priority Waste, through the week of Dec. 16 - 21.

Keep parked vehicles off streets 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on leaf collection days

City crews experience difficulty collecting loose leaves from residential streets when parked vehicles are left on neighborhood roads during collection. Therefore, vehicles must be removed from residential streets between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. while leaf collection signs are present in the area. 

Vehicles left on the street during leaf collection risk being ticketed or towed by police.

A list of free alternative parking locations in Dearborn is available at Dearborn.gov/Leaves.

Best practices for loose leaf collection

Residents are reminded to avoid raking loose leaves into the street before leaf collection signs are present as doing so can create dangerous driving conditions and present challenges for neighbors. Leaves raked into the street should be kept away from catch basin inlets and placed in a uniform row approximately 1 inch from the curb to ensure drainage and ease of collection.

Bagged and contained leaves should be placed on residential easements for collection and may not be put in the street.

For more information and updates on leaf collection, visit Dearborn.gov/Leaves.

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