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Leaf and yard waste in Reading, MA

Rows of brown paper yard waste bags filled with leaves along a Reading, Massachusetts curb in late autumn

Curbside leaf weeks

Free curbside leaf pickup covers four weeks this fall: Oct 26-30 (done), Nov 2-6, Nov 16-20 and Nov 30-Dec 4. Put paper bags out on your regular trash day; the schedule says leaves must be in paper bags. Leaves go in bags, not loose, and the schedule does not state a curbside brush rule, so keep branches for the Compost Center or a pickup. Holiday weeks shift collection one day later, so check your day if a holiday falls in the week. Set bags out the evening before or early that morning, and keep them off the road so leaf trucks and plows can pass.

Strout Ave Compost Center

Reading residents with a 2026 Community Access or Compost Center-only sticker can bring leaves, grass and yard waste. Trimmings must be 8 feet long or shorter and 8 inches thick or less. Brush stays out of paper bags and paper bags stay out of the brush pile. November hours vary by day and include Veterans Day. It closes Sunday, December 6. DPW can be reached at 781-942-9092 or 781-942-9077. Sticker prices are not listed on the schedule, so confirm the price when you buy online. If you are not sure whether your lot is covered, ask before you load the trailer.

Big maple lots and what we haul

Reading's mature maples and oaks mean a quarter acre can produce 30 or more bags. Priced as boxes and bags at $11 each, a large yard crosses into a load: ¼ trailer $209 or ½ trailer $319. We take yard debris after the town weeks have ended, or when a storm drops limbs that exceed the Compost Center size limits. Brush and logs over 8 inches are quoted by the load. Wet leaves weigh far more than dry ones, so raking after a dry day makes bags lighter for everyone.

Reading fall 2026 leaf calendar

  1. Oct 26-30

    Curbside leaf week (ended).

  2. Nov 2-6

    Curbside leaf week, paper bags on trash day.

  3. Nov 16-20

    Curbside leaf week.

  4. Nov 30 - Dec 4

    Last curbside leaf week.

  5. Sunday, Dec 6

    Strout Ave Compost Center closes for the season.

Local resources in Reading

Donation, reuse and recycling options near the pickup. We are not affiliated with these; confirm hours and what they accept before you go.

Quick answers

Can I use plastic bags for leaves in Reading?

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No. Paper bags only.

What are the Reading curbside leaf weeks?

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Nov 2-6, Nov 16-20 and Nov 30-Dec 4, 2026. The Oct 26-30 week has passed.

Does the Compost Center need a sticker?

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Yes, a 2026 Community Access or Compost Center-only sticker bought online.

Sources

Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Reading before you go.

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