The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) collects leaves, twigs, and small grass clippings on your regular trash days.
Put your items in a black trash bag or unlined trash can and place curbside for collection on your trash day. There is no limit to the amount of leaves or clippings that can be put out for collection as long as they were produced by residents and not landscapers.
It is illegal for commercial landscapers to dispose of yard waste by placing it at the curb for collection. Landscapers and hired professionals must dispose of yard waste and clippings at a permitted composting facility.
To learn how to dispose of tree branches and twigs greater than 1/2 inch in diameter, visit the Wood Disposal page.
Instead of throwing out leaves with your trash, you can also:
- Compost them in your backyard
- Take them to a neighborhood-based leaf and yard waste composting site
- Leave them in your yard
Find composting resources.
Find leaf drop-off locations.
