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Leaf and yard waste in Wellesley, MA

Brown paper leaf bags and a pile of raked leaves on a lawn beside a stone wall in front of a Wellesley Colonial in late fall

Where leaves and brush go

The town's advice is to bag raked leaves in brown paper bags and bring them to the RDF. Recycling bins and leaf bags are sold in the Customer Service Office. Earth Products can be dropped off 52 weeks a year, whenever the facility is open.

Keep two piles separate. Per the RDF's October 2025 flyer, leaves and grass, including the brown paper bags, go left of the sign over the Jersey barrier wall in the Yard Waste and Composting area. Brush and wood go to the right in the large pile.

Size limits and what is refused

Mulching materials must be free of foreign matter, including plastic bags, so empty the bag and take it home. Yard waste is defined as trimmings not longer than 4 feet and not thicker than 3 inches. Stumps are prohibited, and logs thicker than 3 inches are accepted only if the DPW agrees. The flyer also says no wooden fencing.

Diseased trees or brush need a special permit. Call 781-235-7600 ext. 3345 before bringing any. Checked November 2026.

Days and hours to plan around

The RDF is open Monday to Wednesday 7 a.m. to noon and Thursday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Sundays 10 to 3 run through November, so the last Sunday is November 29. It is closed Wednesday, November 11 and on Thanksgiving, then shut Sundays December to March.

You still need an RDF sticker on your vehicle. Commercial users have separate hours: commercial hours are Monday to Saturday 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.. Food scraps are a different program; the town runs a paid curbside food waste pilot with Black Earth Compost on Wednesdays, not a leaf service.

When a trailer load makes sense

A paper-bag run is easy. A fall cleanup on a one-acre lot is not: forty bags, a pile of hedge clippings and a leaning limb do not fit a sedan. We haul yard debris by the trailer: $209 for a quarter, $319 for a half, $409 for three quarters and $519 for a full load. Single boxes or bags are $11.

A storm that drops limbs on a Sunday in January has no town outlet until the RDF opens again. Text a photo of the pile and we confirm the number.

Wellesley leaf and yard waste, fall 2026

  1. Now to Nov 29

    Drop leaves, grass, brush and logs at the RDF any open day, Sundays 10 to 3 included.

  2. Nov 11 and Nov 26

    RDF closed for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.

  3. December

    Sunday hours stop; open Monday to Saturday only.

  4. Year round

    Earth Products area stays open whenever the RDF is open.

Local resources in Wellesley

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 Wellesley?

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There is none. The town says it does not provide trash or recycling pickup. Bring leaves to the RDF in brown paper bags.

Can I use plastic bags for leaves in Wellesley?

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No. The RDF rules require mulching materials to be free of foreign matter, including plastic bags. Use brown paper or empty the bag.

Where do I take brush and branches in Wellesley?

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To the Yard Waste area at the RDF, right of the sign. Brush is limited to 3 inches thick and 4 feet long; stumps are not accepted.

Does the RDF charge for leaves?

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The town posts no fee for leaves or brush from a resident's own home. Leaf bags are sold in the Customer Service Office.

Sources

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

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