Leaf Collection

Quick links:

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

Spring Leaf Collection

City staff will resume the fall loose‑leaf collection program at the end of March 2026, weather permitting, to collect leaves that were missed in fall 2025 due to early, heavy snowfall.

If you're able, please rake your leaves to the curb to help crews work more efficiently. You can also bag them for the Region of Waterloo’s Yard Waste Collection Program, which begins April 2026. Visit the Region’s website for collection dates.

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

Cambridge Leaf Collection program

The 2025 Loose Leaf Collection program was paused due to the early onset of winter. City crews will be resuming collection activities starting the week of March 30th for approximately 3-weeks. We are unable to provide specific collection dates at this time due to the variability of conditions throughout the City, but efforts are expected to be completed by no later than April 30th. Staff will be raking leaves from boulevards however if possible, residents are encouraged to rake left over leaves to the road to assist with clean-up efforts.  

Alternatively, the Region of Waterloo's curbside Yard Waste Collection program will be initializing the same week which is another good option for removal

Raking Reminders

  • Do not rake too early. The weekend before your collection date is best. Raking leaves on to the road allowance well before the anticipated collection date 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.
  • If you miss your collection date or have additional leaves after the program has ended additional options are noted below.

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 neighbourhood 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. 

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 date. Raking leaves on to the road allowance well before the anticipated collection date 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.

Night-time street sweeping may occur after the bulk of the leaves have been collected.

Staff monitor weather continuously. Heavy snowfall and ongoing freezing temperatures may force an early end to the loose leaf program. 

As a designated Bee City, we encourage residents to leave the leaves where they are or consider mulching or composting them on your property.

The City recommends that you bag your leaves and set them out for Region of Waterloo yard waste collection or bring leaves to the Cambridge Waste Management Centre.