Leave the Leaves! - Fall 2023
Residents with yards should consider keeping some or all of their leaves as a resource! Leaves are a free, carbon rich fertilizer for lawns and planting beds. They are also critical overwintering habitat for a variety of native insects and amphibians, which are important players in the natural food web. With more and more development in Kane County, our native wildlife really counts on backyard habitat to get by. Leaving leaves does not have to be “all or nothing." The actions suggested below can be combined with each other and combined with traditional leaf pick-up programs (see a list of 2023 programs below). Even just a portion of leaves left in-place can make a big difference!
- Know your leaves. Leaves from some species of trees and shrubs (box elder, for example) dry out and disintegrate very quickly. These leaves are ideal to rake or mulch into lawns to decompose naturally. On the other end of the spectrum, some species' leaves (oaks, for example) take a relatively long time to decompose. A thick blanket of oak leaves left on the lawn will likely smother the turf in the spring. Most species leaves are somewhere in between these two extremes. Homeowners can develop a smart leaf management strategy by taking some notes on species types, leaf quantities, and timing of when different trees lose their leaves.
- Blanket your beds. Any type of planting bed, including tree root zones, are great places to leave some leaves. A 3-5" blanket of whole leaves can help insulate perennial plant roots in the event of a particularly harsh winter. Leaves can be covered with wood mulch in the spring if desired.
- Mulch 'n' mow. Most lawnmowers will make short work of a thin layer of leaves, shredding them up into mulch. Just make sure to run the mower without the collection bag to ensure that the mulched leaves and last grass clippings of the year are returned to the soil as a slow-release fertilizer. Mowers might not cope as well with wet or very thick leaves, so timing is important.
- Create a winter leaf pile. This involves finding an out-of-the-way and wind-sheltered spot in the yard to create a temporary leaf pile. The size and height of such a pile should be planned so as not to be a nuisance to neighbors or to run afoul of local ordinances or HOA rules. Simply let the leaves sit for the winter and clean them up/send them for composting in the spring, by which time the critters that use leaves for overwinter habitat will have moved on.
- Compost at home. Whole or shredded leaves make great “brown" material for any home compost set up. Learn more here!
Fall 2023 Leaf Collection Programs
The following programs are listed in alphabetic order by municipality or township. Unless otherwise noted, these programs are for leaves only and not for other types of landscape waste. In all instances, "bagged leaves" refers to leaves in wet strength brown paper yard waste bags sold at grocery and hardware stores.
Village of Algonquin - leaves and brush will be collected for free (no sticker required) by the contracted waste hauler on normal collection days, October 1 - December 15. Leaves should be in paper bags or resident-owned containers marked with a red X. Brush should be in bags or bundles tied with twine. All other yard waste should be bagged and stickered.
City of Aurora - bagged leaves will be collected for free (no sticker required) by the contracted waste hauler on normal collection days, October 16 - December 1. Bundled brush tied with twine will be collected free through November 3. All other yard waste should be bagged and stickered.
City of Batavia - there is a vacuum truck collection program that will collect leaves piled near the roadside through the week of November 20. See here for the map and schedule and other details. Additionally, bagged leaves will be collected for free (no sticker required) by the contracted waste hauler on all collection days in December.
Batavia Township - there is a vacuum truck collection program that will collect leaves piled near the roadside through the week of November 27. See here or call 630-879-5515 for details.
Blackberry Township - normal collection of leaves and other yard waste in stickered bags, stickered resident-owned containers or subscription yard waste totes will continue with trash and recycling through December 15.
Village of Big Rock - normal unlimited bagged yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through November 30.
Campton Hills/Campton Township - normal sticker-based or cart subscription yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through December 15. Subscription program participants may put out three bags/resident-owned containers or leaves or mixed yard waste in addition to their cart without stickers.
Village of Carpentersville - normal unlimited bagged yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through November 30.
Village of East Dundee - there is a vacuum truck collection program that will collect leaves piled near the roadside starting on Tuesday, October 31 and each Tuesday weekly through the end of November. See here for more info. Additionally, normal unlimited bagged yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through November 30.
Village of Elburn - normal unlimited bagged yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through December 1.
City of Elgin - bagged leaves will be collected for free (no sticker required) by the contracted waste hauler on normal collection days, October 1 - December 1. The city also usually runs a vacuum truck collection program from late October - December, but the dates have not yet been announced.
City of Geneva - there is a vacuum truck collection program that will collect leaves piled near the roadside through the end of November. See here for map, schedule and other details. Additionally, bagged leaves will be collected for free (no sticker required) by the contracted waste hauler on all collection days in December.
Village of Gilberts - unlimited bagged leaf collection with trash and recycling, October 1 - December 15.
Village of Hampshire - normal unlimited bagged yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through the last collection of November.
Kaneville, Village & Township - all leaf and yard waste collection is by subscription only. The final collection of bagged leaves and leaves in resident-owned containers for subscribers will be on the last normal collection date of November.
Village of Maple Park - normal unlimited bagged yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through the last collection of November.
Mill Creek SSA - normal collection of leaves and other yard waste in stickered bags, stickered resident-owned containers or subscription yard waste totes will continue with trash and recycling through December 15.
Village of Montgomery - there is a vacuum truck collection program that will collect leaves piled near the roadside through November 17. See here for more info. Additionally, normal unlimited leaf and yard waste collection by the contracted waste hauler will continue through December 2.
Village of North Aurora - there is a vacuum truck collection program that will collect leaves piled near the roadside October 16 - November 22. See here for the collection calendar and more info. Additionally, bagged leaves and yard waste will be collected free (no stickers) by the contracted waste hauler will continue through the last collection of November.
Village of Pingree Grove - normal unlimited bagged yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through the last collection of November.
Plato Township - all leaf and yard waste collection is by subscription only. The final collection of bagged leaves and leaves in resident-owned containers for subscribers will be on the last normal collection date of November.
City of Saint Charles - there is a vacuum truck collection program that will collect leaves piled near the roadside through the end of November. See here for more details and completion map. Additionally, bagged leaves will be collected for free (no sticker required) by the contracted waste hauler on all collection days in December.
Village of Sleepy Hollow - normal unlimited bagged yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through the last collection of November.
Village of South Elgin - curbside vacuum collection of leaves is available by appointment to senior (65+) homeowners enrolled in the Senior Credit Program and to owners of residential lots larger than an acre. See here for details or call 847-742-5780 for service. Additionally, normal unlimited bagged leaf and yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through December 15.
Village of Sugar Grove - normal unlimited bagged yard waste collection with trash and recycling continues through the last collection of November.
Virgil Township - normal metered collection of bagged or containerized leaves and yard waste with trash and recycling continues through the last collection of November.
Village of West Dundee - there is a vacuum truck collection program that will collect leaves piled near the roadside through the end of November. See here for more details. Additionally, normal unlimited collection of bagged or containerized leaves and yard waste with trash and recycling continues through the last collection of November.
Fall Leaf FAQs
My neighbor raked their leaves into the street. Is that okay?
Leaves in the street is never a great thing. They can cause a slip hazard to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Additionally, if it rains, the leaves will be washed to the nearest storm drain, where they can clog the grates and contribute to local flooding. Kindly let your neighbor know, and perhaps even offer to help move the leaves back onto the parkway for collection.
Can I burn my leaves?
For most Kane County residents, the answer is no. There are a handful of rural zip codes in Kane County where burning of dry landscape waste, including leaves, is allowed in unincorporated areas and under certain conditions. This is restricted to landscape waste and leaves generated on the property where burning occurs. It is never a good idea (and is in violation of the burning ordinance) to burn wet leaves due to the smoke produced. See the ordinance fact sheet for full details.
Can I put my leaves in plastic bags?
Not for disposal. The compost facilities where waste haulers take our leaves only accept loose material and brown paper bags. Haulers are further prohibited by law from knowingly putting plastic bagged leaves into landfills. If you use Halloween-themed bags with leaves as part of your fall decor, please empty or transfer the leaves into paper bags for disposal.
My property includes some forested area - can I just rake my leaves in there?
Sure - that's one way of leaving the leaves! Just keep in mind that leaves make better habitat as an even blanket across a larger area than as a huge, deep pile.
My property includes a stream or wetland - can I just rake my leaves in there?
No, please don't. Obviously, our streams, rivers, and wetlands naturally accumulate some leaves, but if people dump leaves there in mass quantities, it can overload them, contributing to nutrient pollution and short-term flood risks.
Landscape Waste Definitions and Regulations
The Illinois Environmental Protection Act prohibits the disposal of landscape waste in landfills. Instead, it is sent to special facilities and ground into mulch or processed into compost. State law defines landscape waste as grass and woody trimmings, leaves, tree limbs, and other materials resulting from the care of lawns, shrubbery, vines and trees.
In practice, landscape waste is divided into two segments with somewhat different disposal options: yard waste and brush.
Yard waste includes grass clippings, weeds, leaves, pine needles, plant stems, flowers and smaller twigs and branches. Yard waste does not include whole potted plants, clods of dirt, houseplants, straw bales, or sod. It's also important to make sure that yard waste put out for composting is free from plastic pots, plant tags, plant stakes, wire plant cages, etc.
Brush is woody debris, including larger tree and shrub branches or limbs.
Yard Waste Disposal
Curbside Collection: Almost all municipal waste hauling agreements include a yard waste program. Generally speaking, these programs run from April to November, but residents should check with their hauler and/or municipality because some programs start in March and some extend into December (see links to the right). Most programs also include a special collection in January for live Christmas trees.
Packaging for Curbside Collection: All curbside programs allow residents to place yard waste in two-ply, wet strength paper bags sold at grocery and hardware stores. Items that can't practicably fit into bags, such as long sticks/branches or vines can be tied into bundles using biodegradable string or twine, not wire. Check with your hauler for exact bundle specifications, but generally they should be not more than 4 feet long or 50 lbs. in weight. Residents are often allowed to place yard waste for collection into their own clearly labeled tote or container, provided that it is 33 gallons or less in size, has handles, and weighs less than 50 lbs. when full. Some municipal programs have 65 or 95 gallon cart rental options for yard waste. Finally, some municipalities and townships conduct fall curbside leaf collection with a vacuum truck, so leaves can be raked to the curb loose. Check with your municipality for more details. Yard waste should never be placed in plastic bags, mixed with trash or recycling, or swept into roadways.
Drop offs: See our list here.
Burning: Residents of municipalities should check their local ordinances. Burning of dried out landscape waste is allowable in unincorporated areas of certain rural zip codes only, and only under certain weather conditions. See Kane County's Burn Regulations for details. Landscape waste should not be burned wet or damp.
Costs & Cost Reduction: Some municipal programs include the cost of yard waste collection in the base rate for trash. Others require that each bag, bundle or 35 gallon container have its own trash or special yard waste sticker. Costs at drop-offs are at the discretion of the operator. Residents can save money on landscape waste disposal by mulching leaves and grass clippings into their lawns and by composting at home! If planting a new tree, consider something slow-growing and strong, like a native oak, which will produce a lot less litter than many fast-growing ornamentals, acorns not withstanding. Seedless varieties of notoriously messy trees like honey locust or Kentucky coffee tree may also be desirable. Pressed, dried leaves, twigs, acorns, and dried seed pods can make fun craft materials for kids and grown ups too (see "Fun with Brush" section below for some ideas).
Brush Disposal
Brush Collection: Municipalities and townships often provide pick-up programs for larger woody debris. These services may be available on a seasonal schedule, upon request, or following destructive weather events. See the bottom set of links at right for more information. If there is no link for your place of residence and your trees have sustained storm damage, call your township or municipality to see if there are short-term debris services available.
Professional Tree Services: When a tree on private property is damaged by a storm, disease or age, it is a good idea to have a professional come out and assess its condition, especially if it is close to any roads or structures. Check to see if local tree professionals can provide chipping or hauling service to dispose of limbs. If scheduling a whole tree removal or substantial pruning, it is not a good idea to get service without cleanup included unless you have a plan for disposal.
Burning: Residents of municipalities should check their local ordinances. Burning of brush (dried wood from shrubs and trees) is allowable in certain unincorporated zip codes under certain weather conditions. See Kane County's Burn Regulations for details, and please be mindful of your neighbors!
Fun with Brush: Sticks, twigs, and even larger branch cuttings can be materials for some really cool functional and decorative upcycled crafts. Here's a YouTube search for some inspiration, and blog posts for a colorful fall-themed mobile, a wall hanging, a rustic stool, a colorful vase display, Christmas/winter themed projects, and kids' crafts.
