TOLEDO, Ohio — Editor's note: The above video is from an earlier report on leaf collection.
Leaf collection in Toledo began on Nov. 6 for the 2023 fall season and city officials say a new record has been set with its completion on Sunday.
The city of Toledo's leaf collection program was anticipated to take place for six weeks with the goal of collecting the majority of leaves before the first snow.
That six-week goal was met, according to city of Toledo officials, with leaf collection finishing Dec. 17.
Crews worked seven days a week to collect leaves across four zones organized by zip code. In total, 97,501 cubic yards of leaves were collected in 39 days.
If you missed leaf collection, there are alternative options for drop-off that will remain open through January.
What if you missed leaf collection?
If you missed leaf collection, you are asked not to place leaves in the street. Leaves can be disposed of in gray trash containers.
Alternatively, residents are encouraged to compost or mulch leaves to add nutrients to their lawns.
Leaf drop-off sites are also available in proximity to each zone through January. Those drop-off sites are as follows:
Bowman Park, 4671 Jackman Rd, Toledo, OH 43612
- Parking lot off Jackman Road
Woodsdale Park, 1226 Woodsdale Ave., Toledo, OH 43614
- Parking lot off Woodsdale Avenue
City Woodlot, 221 Elmdale Rd., Toledo, OH 43607
- Off Hill Ave. (Monday–Saturday, 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.)
Ravine I Park, 1600 Mott Ave., Toledo, OH 43605
- Parking lot at dead-end
Detwiler Park, 3775 Manhattan Blvd., Toledo, OH 43611
- Parking lot at baseball fields
How leaves were collected
The method used to collect leaves is based on the type of street. For curbed streets, front-end loaders push leaf piles to the end of the street. Leaves are then loaded onto trucks and hauled away. Finally, street sweepers finish sweeping the remainder, leaving behind a clean street.
On uncurbed and main streets, leaf piles are sucked up using a leaf vacuum.
The trucks used for leaf pickup are the same ones used for salting streets and plowing during winter weather. If there is snow or ice before leaf collection is completed, the trucks are converted to handle winter weather and then converted back to trucks used for leaf collection, according to city officials.
Because leaves need to be collected before the first snowfall, collection may begin before leaves have completely fallen.
