Seasonal Leaf Collection in A2 Begins Oct. 6 with Expanded Options

The City of Ann Arbor is expanding services to help residents manage their seasonal leaves for 2025. Between Monday, Oct. 6, and Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, the number of bags that can be left at the curb for collection will increase. In addition, unlimited leaf drop off will begin to be accepted at the Ann Arbor compost facility, from residents or their landscapers, and free wood chips will be made available at three locations around the city. 

Yard bag limit expansion

Beginning on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, residents may set out 20 paper yard bags per collection day instead of the normal limit of 10. Individual bags must not exceed 50 pounds. Residents are also encouraged to use compost carts for leaves.  

Unlimited drop off for leaves

The Ann Arbor compost facility, 4170 Platt Road, will accept unlimited leaf drop offs from residents or their landscapers beginning Oct. 6 for the fall 2025 season. The facility, operated by WeCare Denali, is normally open weekdays 7 a.m.–4 p.m. To drop off, visitors must provide verification of Ann Arbor residency. Leaves from properties outside the city of Ann Arbor do not qualify for this free service.  

Dealing with yard material at home

There are options other than paper yard bags and compost carts to make use of leaves, branches and other material from your yard (see more). Some options include: 

• Use a mulching mower to feed grass clippings and leaves back into your lawn.  
• Use mulched leaves to cover flower beds in winter. 
• Create your own compost pile with tips from Washtenaw County’s composting page, which covers setup, maintenance and even how to become a master composter. Plenty of other resources are also available online.
• Consider creating a dead-wood garden with limbs and branches you might otherwise discard. Even an old holiday tree could be used. These gardens not only fertilize the underlying soil, but they also become homes for beneficial insects, birds and fungi. 

Free wood chips

The City of Ann Arbor has made free wood chips available to residents at three locations around the city. Residents are required to load and haul away the material themselves. The wood chips will be available until November or while supplies last. Locations for free wood chip pickup include: 

• Veterans Memorial Park, 2150 Jackson Ave.
• Bicentennial Park (formerly Southeast Area Park), 2901 East Ellsworth Road
• Gallup Park boat launch, 3000 Fuller Road (boat launch entrance off Geddes Road)

No leaf burning

Burning leaves produces particulate matter which can be harmful. Michigan and City of Ann Arbor law make it illegal to burn leaves within the city limits.

More information about wood chips, fall leaves and all things compost is available at www.a2gov.org/compost.    

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Media Contact:

Alison Heatley, Solid Waste Manager, aheatley@a2gov.org | 734.794.6350