Loose-leaf collection blowing its way to regional neighbourhoods
Posted Oct 30, 2025 10:10:28 AM.
Last Updated Oct 30, 2025 12:04:26 PM.
With October coming to a close and autumn in full swing, it’s time to begin thinking about those leaves and where to rake them, with loose-leaf collection beginning to ramp up across the region.
The work is being done across thousands of properties throughout Waterloo Region, all in an effort to reduce the amount of leaves on lawns and across the streets as fall continues.
Loose-leaf collection is being offered in Waterloo and Cambridge, but for Kitchener, it’s on a slightly reduced system, with collection machines solely being sent out to roads with more mature trees that are expected to drop excessive amounts of leaves.
A reminder that collection services are not designed to consist of all leaves from across one’s property, solely for trees located directly beside or near the roads.
That means residents aren’t allowed to collect all the leaves from their backyards and other trees across their property, as those are still required to be bagged up and placed on the side of the road in time for their separate collection dates.
Each city recommends only raking leaves to the curb a day or two ahead of the specified loose-leaf collection dates.
Those dates can be found on signs placed on the impacted streets set to see leaf collection efforts. Anyone who misses the loose-leaf collection times can, instead, bag up their leaves and drop them off at drop-off sites found throughout the region.
Further details can be found on the City of Cambridge, City of Waterloo, and City of Kitchener websites.
