If you participate in the Curbside Composting program, you must separate your leaves and other yard waste from your trash.

You can use the brown bin provided by the Department of Sanitation for your yard waste.

If you don't have a brown bin, you can use any bin less than 55 gallons and label it with a Composting Bin Decal. Use the Sanitation Material Request Form to order a free decal.

In addition to bins, you can use:

• Paper lawn and leaf bags, which are available at hardware stores, home improvement stores, and many larger supermarkets
• Clear plastic bags

Yard waste can also be tied into bundles 2 feet by 4 feet or smaller.

If you don’t participate in the Curbside Composting program, you may place your leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs less than 1/2 inch in diameter in a black trash bag or unlined trash can and place curbside for collection on your trash day.

You can also use paper lawn and leaf bags to dispose of your leaves and yard waste. They are generally available from hardware and home improvement stores, as well as many larger supermarkets.

Instead of throwing out leaves with your trash, you can also:

• Compost them in your yard
• Take them to a leaf drop-off site
• Check with your local food scrap drop-off site to see if leaves are accepted
• Leave them in your yard

Special Fall Leaf Collection Period

Free fall leaf collection is available for:

• Bronx Community Boards 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12
• All of Staten Island

Place leaf and yard waste in paper lawn and leaf bags, clear plastic bags, or an open, labeled bin.

Set waste out at the curb after 8 PM on:

• Saturday, November 25 for pickup on Sunday, November 26
• Saturday, December 9 for pickup on Sunday, December 10

Learn more about special fall leaf collections.