Concord's Fall Leaf Collection will return with bulk leaf collection starting on Monday, October 28, and bagged leaf collection starting November 18.
Residents who want to participate in the City’s bulk leaf collection must rake leaves down to the curb for a one-time collection. Crews from Concord General Services will collect leaves as weather permits in different areas of the city, focusing on residential areas within the City’s drainage system.
Starting locations alternate each year; this year crew one will start at the Bow town line and work north, crew two will start at Blossom Hill Cemetery and work north, and crew three will start on Mountain Road near Fairview Drive and work south along the east side of the Merrimack River.
Due to unpredictable leaf volumes at the curb and weather conditions, it is unknown when crews will reach certain areas for collection. Residents are encouraged to have leaves ready by the start of the program to not miss collection. Crews can only come to areas once and will not be able to return to areas already collected.
The only scheduled collection is for residents near Concord High School, which takes place on the Veterans Day holiday each year in coordination with the school closure to minimize public disturbance as much as possible and in consideration of public safety. A map is available on the City website of the area scheduled to receive bulk collection on Monday, November 11.
Residents are required to rake leaves fully into the street to be reachable for collection. Leaves should not be placed in piles or around obstructions such as mailboxes, signs, or poles. The City recommends keeping leaves in a tight windrow along the curb, sidewalk, or edge of pavement to keep streets and sidewalks clear. Refrain from on-street parking Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. until collection is complete on the street to avoid blocking access to leaves.
Bulk leaf collection is weather-dependent. Changes in weather and the arrival of snow could suspend collection. Residents are advised to participate in the City’s bagged leaf collection to guarantee leaf collection, especially as the weather changes.
Bagged leaf collection will be available for three weeks to residents with curbside trash collection. Leaves must be placed in biodegradable yard waste bags or in rigid containers labeled for leaves and must be at the curb by 7 a.m. each Monday, regardless of a resident’s trash day. Bagged leaf collection is collected separately from trash and may occur at any time during the week, ahead or behind your trash collection, depending on the volume of leaves at the curb. Placing leaves at the start of each week will help ensure collection. Bags should be at the curb by November 18, November 25, and December 2 for collection each week.
Bagged leaf collection is not weather-dependent like bulk collection, but residents are encouraged to proactively bag leaves ahead of any anticipated snow storms to avoid snow cover. The City introduced the bagged leaf program in 2018 to provide another option for leaf collection that would have more predictability. This program provides three opportunities for a guaranteed collection.
Alternative methods for leaf disposal include mulching leaves into the lawn, piling them in wooded areas on your property, bringing them to a local accepting farm, or dropping them off at the Fort Eddy Road Reprocessing Center, now operated by Raymond’s Landscaping LLC (formerly managed by Gelinas Excavation). Drop-off is free with proof of residency. Brush, branches, and limbs are not acceptable materials for the City’s leaf collection, but can be dropped off separately at the Fort Eddy Road Reprocessing Center for a nominal fee.
The Fort Eddy Road Reprocessing Center is located at 10 Intervale Road, off Fort Eddy Road, and is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed daily for lunch between noon and 1 p.m. Saturday hours will be available from 8 a.m. to noon on November 2, November 9, November 16, November 23, and December 7. Hours are weather permitting and should be confirmed by calling ahead of drop off.
More information, frequently asked questions, and maps of crew routes and completed collection areas can be found online at www.concordnh.gov/leafcollection.