Leaf it to nature – tips to manage your leaves this fall

Fall leaves add colour throughout the city but they can also create a lot of seasonal clean-up. Before you reach for the rake, consider a few simple ways to manage leaves at home. 

Leaving the leaves on your lawn or mulching provides a great shelter in the winter for pollinators like bees and butterflies and will break down naturally over time. Leaves can also create a natural mulch that helps suppress weeds and add nutrients to your soil. 

You can also set your leaves out for the Region of Waterloo’s seasonal yard waste collection program. Collection takes place every second week until the end of November or early December depending on your collection schedule. Set bags on your driveway, near the curb, not on the road to help keep streets clear and safe for other road users like cyclists.  

Check out the Region of Waterloo’s Waste Whiz app or website to confirm your collection day.  Visit regionofwaterloo.com/yardwaste. 

The City’s leaf collection program returns November 2 and runs through November 27.