
Sacramento Leaf Season 2022-23 - YouTube
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Leaf Season FAQs
Every year during November through January, residents can place excess yard waste in piles on the street for collection. |
Leaf season starts November 1, 2023 and continues through January 29, 2024. Monday, January 29, 2024 is the last day to put your pile out for collection that week, as the daily schedule shifts and you might miss your last collection otherwise. |
Only yard waste (leaves, branches, etc.) should go in the piles. Food waste and food-soiled paper go in your organic waste container. No pet waste should go in the leaf piles or organic waste containers. Pet waste goes in the garbage. See the leaf pile guidelines below. |
Residents who are City of Sacramento Recycling and Solid customers with a home on a public street can put out a pile for collection. Always fill the container first for weekly collection before making a leaf pile. |
Check out the collection calendar (available after 10/23) to see if a leaf season schedule appears for your property. |
We don’t offer leaf season reminders because the schedule gets updated daily (the schedule shifts depending on the weather and the volume of leaves piled in the street instead of containers) and it would inundate our customers with reminder messages. You can check your collection calendar to find out when the Claw is expected to come next. |
Residents who live on a private street do not receive leaf season services but will continue to receive weekly containerized collection. Residents in apartment buildings of five units or more and commercial properties are not City customers and are not permitted to put out piles. |
2023-2024 Residential Leaf Season Collection
First Day Out:
November 1, 2023
Last Day Out:
January 29, 2024 (this is the last day to put out your leaf pile, as your collection day may shift during the week as our crews make their collections, and your pile may not be collected if not put out on the street by January 29th)
Christmas Tree recycling tips
Claw Schedule:
The claw will make at least seven collections on each street during leaf season. Starting October 23, 2022 you can use the SacRecycle Collection Calendar or SacRecycle app to receive an estimate of the next collection date. In the early part of the season, time between collections may be shorter. As leaf drop volume grows, and if wind and rainstorms occur, it can take crews longer rotate through the entire city. Always fill your container first as weekly collection will continue for organic waste containers.
The schedule is updated daily based on volume of yard waste from the previous day, weather conditions and equipment availability. Check the calendar frequently since collection dates change often. Crews work rain or shine, including holidays.
Fill Containers First
Weekly residential organic waste container collection will continue year-round on a customer's usual collection day. RSW will make 13 container collections during leaf season. When customers consistently use their container along with the pile, streets are cleaner faster and more parking is available.
Leaf Pile Guidelines

- Piles should be no more than five cubic yards in size (4' X 4' X 9' pile). Limbs must be cut to 3' (three feet) or less in length and no more than 4" (four inches) in diameter.
- Place the pile 6' (six feet) from any obstruction (cars, boats, basketball hoops etc.)
- Make sure there is space between the curb and pile to allow water to flow to storm drains.
- When possible, avoid placing piles in bike lanes.
- Do not put food waste in the yard waste pile. Food waste goes into the organics container.
- Do not put pet waste in any yard waste pile or container. Pet waste goes into the garbage container.
- Piles should not be in plastic bags. No organic waste or recycling should ever be put in plastic bags.
- Christmas Trees will be accepted in piles (remove any plastic, glass or metal decor)
- Materials Accepted/Not Accepted