Leaf and yard waste pickup in Boston, MA
The containers and the set-out window
Use large paper bags or open barrels marked YARD WASTE with a City sticker (request one from the city's leaf and yard waste page). No plastic bags, contractor barrels, collapsible containers or the city's recycling bins; dirt and mulch are not collected. Branches must be no more than 3 feet long and 1 inch thick, tied with string.
Set containers out by 6 a.m. on your regular trash day; if you have two trash days, it's the first. Buildings of more than six units are not served. The calendar is an image, so confirm your week in the Trash Day app or with 311 at 617-635-4500.
Yard-waste weeks are on a fixed city calendar, not on demand. A bag put out in the wrong week is not taken. Paper bags also tear when they sit wet, so set them out the evening before rather than days ahead.
Because plastic bags are refused, they will be left behind. A yard with big trees can fill many bags, which makes the window tight.
After Dec 4, or for a bigger job
Boston's program runs April through December, so once the last scheduled fall week passes there is no more curbside yard-waste collection until spring, and none during the Christmas tree weeks. Drop-off events for yard waste are residents-only, and none were listed when we checked. For a one-time cleanup, a pickup priced by the trailer load starts at $209 for a quarter trailer, with the $159 minimum applying below that.
We do not price leaf bags individually; yard debris is a load job. Compost it at home if you can, or ask a neighbor with a collection day nearer to the calendar's last week.
Boston yard waste weeks remaining in fall 2026
- Nov 2-6
Trash day that week
- Nov 9-14
Includes Saturday trash day
- Nov 16-20
Trash day that week
- Nov 23-28
Not Thanksgiving, Nov 26
- Nov 30-Dec 4
Last collection week of 2026
Local resources in Boston
Donation, reuse and recycling options near the pickup. We are not affiliated with these; confirm hours and what they accept before you go.
- Hazardous waste
Boston Zero Waste Day (event site)
Not year-round and takes no furniture; it is the city's main way to dispose of paint and e-waste. About 7 miles from Boston (straight line), in West Roxbury.
315 Gardner St, West Roxbury, MA 02132
Quick answers
Can I put leaves in plastic bags in Boston?
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No. Plastic bags are not collected. Use large paper bags or open barrels marked YARD WASTE with a City sticker.
Are branches collected?
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Yes, if they are under 3 feet long and 1 inch thick and tied with string.
Does Boston collect yard waste in January?
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No. Collection runs April through December on scheduled weeks.
Sources
Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Boston before you go.
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “Curbside leaf and yard waste collection is on the same day as your trash day.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “Place leaves and yard debris in large paper bags or open barrels labeled YARD WASTE with a City issued sticker” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “Never use plastic bags, large contractor/landscape barrels, collapsible containers, or City issued recycling bins for yard waste.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “Plastic bags, dirt and mulch are not acceptable items and will not be collected.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “Branches must be no more than 3 feet long, 1 inch thick, and tied with a string.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “Place your barrels, bags, and branches curbside by 6 a.m.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “If you have two collection days per week, leaf and yard waste collection is on your first collection day of the week.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “Please be aware that the City does not collect yard waste from buildings with more than 6 units.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “Leaf and yard waste curbside collection is only available certain weeks.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “We pick up leaf and yard waste from April to December on scheduled days” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “Leaf and yard waste drop-off events are for Boston residents only.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “There are no related events available at this time!” · accessed October 31, 2026
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule: “No yard waste is collected during this period.” · accessed October 31, 2026
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