• Place leaves at the curb and out of the roadway by 7 a.m. up to one week ahead of each leaf collection period.
• Avoid covering sidewalks, storm drains, water meters, fire hydrants, and sewer clean-outs.
• Keep piles at a distance from mailboxes and parked cars.
• Keep trash, large stones, and other debris out of leaf piles.
• Following loose leaf season, Cary will continue leaf collection by request at no charge from February 9 to March 31, 2026. A fee will apply for additional pickup requests after March 31, 2026; contact Cary 311 to request. 

• Yard Waste: Leaves in reusable containers or brown paper bags may be placed curbside for weekly yard waste collection. Yard waste is also accepted, at no charge, to the Citizen's Convenience Center at 313 N. Dixon Ave.
• Backyard Compost: Fallen leaves are a great addition to a backyard composting operation. Be sure to check your property’s HOA guidelines on yard waste and maintenance. 
• Support Pollinators: Consider letting your leaves decompose in a natural area in your yard to support wildlife habitats and local biodiversity.
• Private Landscapers: During loose leaf collection season, private residential landscapers are permitted to drop-off leaves at the Citizen's Convenience Center. Homeowners must contact Cary 311 and provide their address and the name of the company who will dispose of leaves on their behalf. Contractors will have up to five days from contacting 311 to dispose of residential leaves collected. 

Want to put your leaves to work for the environment? Cary also offers programs and resources to help residents make the most of their leaves at home — from composting workshops to classes on creating wildlife-friendly yards. Learn more at carync.gov/compost.

• When does loose-leaf collection take place? Between November and January, Cary provides three rounds of free loose leaf collection. Rounds begin on November 3, December 1, and January 5.
• How do I know when my leaves will be collected? Crews work zone by zone, not by set street dates, and can take several weeks but you can track progress in real-time on Cary’s Loose-Leaf Map (above). Your leaves should be left at the curb up to one week ahead of the start date for each round.
• When should I put leaves at the curb? Your leaves should be left at the curb up to one week ahead of the start date for each round. Keep piles loose (not bagged) and free of sticks, rocks, or trash.
• Why did the truck skip my pile or leave leaves behind? Piles may be skipped if they are blocked, improperly placed, or contain other materials such as trash, large stones, and other debris. Large or wet piles may require multiple passes. If your pile is still there after your street is finished, call Cary 311.
• My leaves have been out for weeks. What’s taking so long? Each round covers the entire town. Weather, equipment repairs, or heavy volumes may cause delays; however, crews will complete all zones before moving to the next round.
• What if I don’t want to wait for curbside collection? You can:

• Place leaves in brown paper bags or reusable containers, curbside, for weekly yard waste collection.
• Drop off leaves at the Citizen’s Convenience Center for free.

• Is there a fee for loose-leaf collection? The three curbside rounds are part of the solid waste fee Cary residents pay as part of their monthly utility bill.
• Can sticks and branches be collected with my leaves? No. Sticks and limbs damage collection equipment. Bundle them separately for weekly yard waste pickup.
• Do leaves go in the street? No. Place piles at the curb, out of the roadway, and away from storm drains to prevent flooding and support water quality.
• Who do I contact if I think my pile was missed? Submit a request or call 311. Choose the “Missed Yard Waste” category for the fastest service.
• What happens to the leaves? They get composted! Learn more about composting in Cary here.