Leaf Season Reminders

November 06, 2025

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With a beautiful array of colors in orange, red and yellow, trees along Maple Avenue in Downers Grove announce to the community that fall is here. As the leaves begin to fall, the Village reminds residents of their choices to properly dispose of leaves and yard waste.

side-by-side comparison of a storm drain covered by leaves versus one that is clear of debris.


Please keep leaves and grass clippings out of the street.


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Mulch or Compost

  1. Mulch.  If you have a mulching lawnmower, use it to recycle leaves and their nutrients into your lawn.
  2. Consider composting. Composting is the biological decomposition of organic material into a humus-like substance called compost. Leaves and other types of yard waste can be a source of materials used in a compost pile.

Put them out for pickup on Garbage Collection Day

The final week of yard waste collection for 2025 will be December 8-12.

  1. Leaves must in a 33-gallon biodegradable paper bag; OR a33 gallon unlined, reusable can
  2. Place a garbage sticker on each bag or can.
  3. If you rent a yard waste cart from Republic, leaves can be combined with other yard waste.
  4. However, if you put out additional items of leaves/yard waste for the week, they will require a sticker. 
  5. Mow over leaves before bagging them. This reduces the ratio of bags to leaves by seven to one, thereby saving money on sticker costs.

Please Remember: 

  1. Do not rake or blow leaves or grass clippings into the street. (Prohibited by ordinance.)
  2. The burning of leaves and other yard waste is prohibited by ordinance.
  3. If you are able, please clear leaves from any inlets or storm drains along the curb near your property. Clogged drains can overflow in heavy rain and cause excess standing water on the roadways. 
  4. All drains lead to local waterways. As leaves break down they release phosphorus, which at high levels is not healthy for the water ecosystem