Denver DOTI Opens LeafDrop Sites for Fall Leaves and Pumpkins

Denver DOTI Opens LeafDrop Sites for Fall Leaves and Pumpkins

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Denver residents can now dispose of fallen leaves and pumpkins at LeafDrop sites, where they will be turned into compost. The city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) has three weekday and six weekend drop-off locations open this month. Compost created through this program is made available to Denver residents in the spring.

As the air of November settles over the city, people living in the Denver metro area are facing the task of clearing their yards of autumn’s bounty. For those raking up fallen leaves or deciding what to do with leftover Jack-o’-lanterns, the city has a solution ready: the LeafDrop program. This initiative, run by the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), offers residents a way to dispose of organic yard waste, turning it into compost.

How to Drop off Leaves and Pumpkins

For anyone looking to participate, the logistics are straightforward. The city has several options in many areas of town, split between weekday and weekend access. DOTI has three weekday drop-off sites and six weekend drop-off sites open this month.

Once at a site, the process is simple. Residents can take their leaves and pumpkins into designated collection areas. From there, the organic material is turned into compost. The resulting compost is then made available to Denver residents in the spring.

Leaves and pumpkins can also be placed in the compost cart for Denver residents.

Thanksgiving Week Collection Changes

As the calendar rolls toward the end of the month, another event on the horizon will affect waste collection schedules: Thanksgiving. The Solid Waste Management department has announced specific changes for the week of November 23. During this week, collection will operate on a modified schedule, running Monday through Wednesday only. This means that regular trash and recycling collection will proceed as scheduled for those days, but a key service will be suspended.

Compost will be suspended for the week. Residents with Large Item Pickup scheduled for the week of Thanksgiving should set their items out on their collection day the following week of Nov. 30.

Announcement for item pickup

To ensure a smooth transition, the city has provided a breakdown of the collection schedule for the holiday week. Customers are sorted into groups based on their regular pickup day:

  • Monday and Tuesday customers: Set out carts by 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23, for collection over the course of Monday and Tuesday.
  • Wednesday customers: Set out carts by 6 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24.
  • Thursday customers: Set out carts by 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Cherry Creek Drop-Off Center Closure

In line with the holiday schedule, the Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off will also be closed. It will be closed Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Nov. 26 – 30, and both Friday and Saturday the weeks of Christmas and New Years.

The city has made the updated collection schedules readily available through multiple channels. The most up-to-date information can be found on the official Denver government website at www.denvergov.org/trashschedule. For those who prefer a mobile-first experience, the city’s Trash and Recycling App also provides access to the schedule, collection reminders, and service alerts, ensuring residents have the information they need right at their fingertips.

Denver’s organic waste programs, like LeafDrop, collect leaves and pumpkins to be turned into compost.

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