Text a photo →
Haulers

Leaf and yard waste pickup in Swampscott, MA

Brown paper yard waste bags and a barrel of leaves on the sidewalk in front of a shingled Swampscott house with a stone wall and orange maple leaves

The 2026 schedule and the rules

Yard waste pickup will occur on your regularly scheduled collection day in seven set weeks: April 20, June 1, July 20, September 7, October 19, November 16 and December 7. The first five are past. The 2027 weeks are not posted.

The rules from the town's yard waste page:

What counts and what does not

Accepted: grass, leaves, and tree and brush trimmings up to 1 inch thick. Not accepted: soil, stumps, rocks, mulch, and trimmings thicker than 1 inch. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected.

A one-inch limit is about the width of a thumb. Pruned shrubs and hedge cuttings usually fit. A limb from a storm, a rhododendron root ball or a pile of old mulch does not, and the town offers no drop-off for any of it. The DPW Yard monthly event takes metal, Styrofoam and cardboard only.

One seasonal note for pumpkins: the Solid Waste Advisory Committee's Pumpkin Toss on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Phillips Park football field parking lot accepts them for composting, with no paint or decorations.

If you miss a week or have too much

The page lists no make-up date for a missed week, and the next date after December 7 is not posted. Keep leaves in paper bags in the garage rather than switching to plastic.

A lot with big maples can produce more than two weeks of bags. The page sets no limit on the number of bags, only 50 pounds each.

For anything the weeks will not take, JUNKRUN loads leaves, brush, limbs and old mulch: a box or bag is $11, a quarter trailer $209, a half $319. The $159 minimum applies, and there is no travel fee. Checked November 2026.

Swampscott yard waste weeks in 2026

  1. Apr 20, Jun 1, Jul 20, Sep 7

    Past. Spring cleanup and summer weeks are done.

  2. Week of Oct 19

    Past. The first fall week.

  3. Week of Nov 16

    Next. Bags out by your collection day; not before the week begins.

  4. Week of Dec 7

    Last 2026 week; the town warns against leaves frozen inside a barrel, so paper bags suit December.

  5. After Dec 7

    No 2027 dates posted. Check the town's Yard Waste page in spring.

Local resources in Swampscott

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

When is leaf pickup in Swampscott in 2026?

+

The weeks of November 16 and December 7, on your regularly scheduled collection day.

Can I use plastic bags for leaves in Swampscott?

+

No. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected. Use paper bags or barrels labelled Yard Waste.

How thick can branches be for Swampscott yard waste?

+

Up to 1 inch. Stumps, soil, rocks and mulch are not accepted.

Where do I put the bags?

+

On the sidewalk, or in front of the property if there is none. The truck will not collect from a driveway or lawn edge.

Sources

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

Related

Hauled from
$209
Get my priceText