The City of Grove City residential leaf collection is underway.

Click on the map for schedule information.

View and print the 2022 Leaf Collection Map and Schedule.

Visit the interactive Grove City GIS Leaf Collection Lookup App to obtain your collection area.

Bagged leaves should be left with regular refuse pickup by Local Waste Services.

Whether you pile, compost or bag them, review the best practices for protecting water quality and your local infrastructure from the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District:

• Keep leaves out of the street and away from storm drain inlets so they are not windblown or carried by rainwater to street drains where they can block grates and cause street flooding.
• If using a professional landscaper, request when a leaf-blower is used to clean pavement that it be directed back into the yard.
• Rake leaves to the grassy area between the street and sidewalk or to the edge of your lawn, if no sidewalks. Do not rake or blow leaves into the street. Temporary leaf piles won’t kill grass, although there may be temporary discoloration. To prevent this, rake leaves immediately before your scheduled pickup week.
• If using the normal refuse collection service, place leaves in trash cans marked “yard waste” or in the large paper bags sold for this purpose. Leaves in plastic bags are not collected. Though yard waste paper bags are heavy-duty, rain can affect them, so avoid leaving out in the elements for an extended period.
• Do not dump leaves into a ravine or stream. The leaf piles can form thick mats that won’t decompose over the winter, killing underlying vegetation, leading to erosion and subsequent water quality problems and property loss.
• When leaves and other organic matter decomposes in streams, bacteria use up the dissolved oxygen needed for aquatic organisms causing “dead zones” that kill fish and other stream organisms.
• Add leaves to composting bins, but mix with high-nitrogen ingredients for best results. For faster decomposition, run over them first with a mulching lawnmower. If composting kitchen scraps during winter, save dried leaves in plastic bags for a “brown” material to cover the scraps over the winter. It also makes for a handy “brown” in the spring, when there are fewer “browns” to mix.
• Use leaves as mulch: they slow the growth of weeds, retain soil moisture, maintain lower soil temperatures in the summer, and protect against temperature fluctuations and some low-temperature injury during winter. They eventually decompose, adding nutrients to the soil and improving soil structure.

City crews do their best to adhere to the published schedule. Collection crews may be in your neighborhood prior to your scheduled week, but City crews will return on the published week to ensure all leaves are collected. In addition, weather conditions and the timing of leaves falling may delay the program. In the event of snowfall, safe roadways are our priority and leaf collection will cease until roadways are cleared. Residents are responsible for re-raking any leaves misplaced by snow plowing operations. In the event the City is unable to resume leaf collection operations, residents will be asked to bag any remaining leaves and set them out for normal refuse collection.

For additional information, contact the Grove City Service Department at 614-277-1100.

LEAF COLLECTION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q:   How do I find out when leaf collection is for my area?
A:    The 2022 Leaf Collection Map and Schedule.

Q:   Where should I rake my leaves?
A:    Rake leaves to the curb by 7 a.m., Monday of the assigned collection week. Leaves should only be placed in the grassy area between the street and sidewalk or to the edge of the lawn for areas without a sidewalk. Leaves placed in the street can block storm sewers and create hazards for parking. Do not park vehicles in front or on top of leaves 7 a.m.-4 p.m. during collection weeks so workers can maneuver leaf collection machinery.

Q:  My collection was scheduled for Monday, why didn’t crews take my leaves?
A:    Collection service for each area begins on Monday. Crews start the scheduled area on Monday and work their way through the same area the remainder of the week. If your leaves were not collected Monday, they will be later that scheduled week.

Q:   Since my leaves were out the Monday prior to my scheduled collection, why were they not picked up by Friday?
A:    Please contact the Public Service Department at 614-277-1100 to let them know a street may have been missed, so a supervisor can investigate.

Q:   The leaf crews just collected my leaves, but I have more. What should I do with these leaves?
A:    Leaf crews make one pass on each street until the area is completed. You may contact the Public Service Department to make a request for them to return, but it is only possible if they complete the remainder of the route early. There are no guarantees on a date they will return. Another option is to place leaves in a bag or yard waste container, marked “Yard Waste,” and set out for weekly yard waste collection.

Q:   Why did the leaf crew push my leaves into the street after we were told not to?
A:    Residents are asked to put leaves in the grassy area in front of their home, not in the curb and gutter area, to prevent leaves from blocking storm sewers or creating other hazards. Crews rake the leaves into the gutter prior to the arrival of the leaf vacuum, so they are only in the gutter for a short time. This allows the vacuum to work efficiently. There may be delays due to unforeseen circumstances such as equipment failure, leaf vac filling up, etc. Crews will return to collect the remaining leaves. If they have not returned within a day, please call our office at 614-277-1100, and we will follow up.

Q:   Crews were on my street yesterday, but my leaves weren’t out yet. Will they return?
A:    Leaf crews make one pass on each street until the designated area is completed. You may contact the Public Service Department to make a request for them to return, but it is only possible if the remainder of the route is completed before the end of the week. There are no guarantees crews will return. Another option is to place leaves in a bag or yard waste container and put out for weekly yard waste collection.

Q:   I spoke with the leaf crews on the street and they told me they would return but did not.
A:    The crews are here to serve and want to be helpful, however they do not have the authority to alter the collection schedule. It is important that crews maintain the set timetable to ensure the service is provided to the entire city. If you have a special request, please call the office at 614-277-1100, so a supervisor can evaluate whether it can be accommodated, even if you spoke to a crew member.

Q:   I saw the leaf truck come through my neighborhood, but it is not our scheduled week, did I miss them?
A:    In some instances, crews finish their assigned route early and may work ahead in areas with heavy leaf fall or locations that have a return request submitted. In this case, they will return on the scheduled collection week for the entire neighborhood. Please proceed with raking your leaves out the Sunday before your scheduled collection week.

Q:   My leaves dropped early/late, how can I have them collected before/after my scheduled week?
A:    For quickest removal, residents should place leaves in a bag or yard waste container, marked “Yard Waste,” and set out for weekly yard waste collection. The priority for leaf crews is to complete the scheduled area during the assigned week. Once the route is complete, crews work on a list of requests until the next scheduled week begins.

Q:   I hired someone to rake my leaves and they came before/after my designated collection week, can crews come to collect?
A:    Schedules are made to maximize efficiency for this popular service, so crews are unable to return once they have moved on to another area. Residents should coordinate contracted leaf removal immediately prior to the scheduled week for their designated area. This helps avoid leaves blowing back into the yard or along the street before crews can collect them.

Q:   My last scheduled week for leaf collection is coming up, but all the leaves have not yet fallen. Can another week be scheduled?
A:    Our crews will continue to collect leaves until the weather prohibits use of the equipment or crews are moved to snow and ice removal. If you still have leaves to rake to the curb, please contact the Public Service Department at 614-277-1100 to discuss if a return collection is possible. Once all routes are complete and if the weather allows, crews will work on the list of requests until no longer possible. Any remaining leaves (at the curb or in the yard) should be bagged or put in a container marked “Yard Waste” and put out for weekly trash collection.