Leaf Collection

Quick links:

 

  1. Leave the leaves
  2. Composting and Mulching
  3. Region of Waterloo Yard Waste Collection
  4. Cambridge Leaf Collection program
  5. Frequently asked questions

 

Street showing leaves on the roadway and a car parked further along the road.

Leave the leaves

Leaves provide a great shelter in the winter for pollinators, like bees, butterflies and moths. As a designated Bee City, we know these creatures help create a healthy ecosystem and sustainable food supply. Leaves also provide a natural mulch that helps suppress weeds and add nutrients to our soil.

Composting and Mulching

Composting
Composting leaves is an economical, environmentally friendly way to manage fall yard waste. Add leaves gradually to your home compost—moistening them and mixing in organic material helps them break down faster. Leaves will naturally compost over the winter and create nutrient‑rich material for your garden.

Mulching
Use a lawn mower or mulching device to shred leaves and reduce their volume for easier storage or composting. You can also leave finely chopped leaves on your lawn, where they decompose and return valuable nutrients to the soil.

Region of Waterloo Yard Waste Collection

The Region of Waterloo collects yard waste from eligible households every second week (the opposite week from garbage collection), seasonally from late March to end of November or early December depending on the biweekly schedule. When preparing leaves or yard waste use paper yard waste bags or reuse a garbage can.

Visit the Region of Waterloo Yard Waste page for more information. Check your schedule for when your yard waste collection week is.

Cambridge Waste Management leaf drop-off site

Bring your bagged leaves and other yard waste to the Cambridge Waste Management Centre, located at 201 Savage Dr., Monday to Saturday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., fees may apply. 

Cambridge Leaf Collection program

The 2026 Leaf Collection service will begin on November 2 and is estimated to conclude by November 27.  This schedule can fluctuate depending on when trees drop their leaves and winter conditions may impact services during the program. 

We can work together to keep our neighbourhoods clean, maintain safe roadways and sidewalks, and help prevent leaves from entering storm drains and local waterways. Proper leaf management supports a healthier environment and helps ensure City infrastructure continues to function effectively throughout the fall season.

Secondly, the Region of Waterloo's curbside Yard Waste Collection program will continue until the end of November, which is another good option for removal. 

Whether you're preparing leaves for curbside collection or using alternative disposal options, you'll find everything you need to know about collection schedules, designated areas, and program requirements below.

City of Cambridge Leaf Collection Map

Raking Reminders

  • Do not rake too early. Please wait until your collection period approaches before placing leaves on the road allowance. Leaves placed out too early may be subject to Bylaw Enforcement.
  • Rake leaves onto the side of the road, as close to the edge of the roadway as possible.
  • Leave sticks, branches or other material out of the leaf pile. Non leaf material can damage equipment and delay or injure work crews.
  • Keep leaves off storm sewer grates, sidewalks, and bike lanes.
  • Roadside leaf piles are tempting and dangerous for kids, please remind them not to play in roadside leaf piles.
  • Keep waste carts and recycling containers off the road.
  • Place your waste carts and recycling on your driveway at the end, not behind parked vehicles.
  • Please note that, due to operational demands and time constraints, City of Cambridge staff may not be able to revisit areas that have already been serviced.
  • If you miss your collection date or have additional leaves after the program has ended additional options are noted below.

We appreciate residents and businesses to keep Cambridge clean, safe, and beautiful this fall.

Frequently asked questions

Generally, the City program begins in the second week of November and wraps up on the first week of December. This timeframe however can fluctuate depending on when trees drop their leaves and when winter conditions occur (snow, frost, freezing rain).

Please refrain from raking leaves to the curb or onto the street until the weekend prior to your collection period. The Cambridge Leaf Collection Program map can be found here. Raking leaves onto the road allowance well before the anticipated collection period may be subject to Bylaw Enforcement.
You can check the anticipated collection start date by entering your address into the map under the Cambridge Leaf Collection Program map above.

City staff collect leaves using various equipment including front-end loaders, dump trucks, leaf vacuums and street sweepers. Four loader crews, two leaf vacuums and three sweepers are used during this program. Residential areas are serviced by specific equipment according to the volume of leaves in the area. 

Vehicles parked on the road and on top of leaf piles will obstruct services. Workers will go around the vehicle and continue with leaf pick-up. Workers may not be back to pick up the leaves where that vehicle was parked. 

Staff monitor weather continuously. Heavy snowfall and ongoing freezing temperatures may delay or force and early end to the Leaf Collection Program. If snowfall ends the program early, leaf collection services will be reconsidered when weather conditions permit. 

The City recommends that residents bag leaves for Region of Waterloo yard waste collection or bring leaves to the Cambridge Waste Management Centre.

Please note that, due to operational demands and time constraints, City of Cambridge staff may not be able to revisit areas that have already been serviced.
As a designated Bee City, the City encourages residents to leave fallen leaves on private property where they naturally accumulate, or to manage them through on-site mulching or composting practices whenever feasible.