Someone IS coming for those leaves piled by the curb. Here’s how to learn when the crews will be on your street.

by Marlene Berlin

If you’ve seen leaves carefully raked to the curb, where they sit… and sit… and sit… you might be scratching your head as to the status of leaf collection in our area. But progress has been made.

A section of the DPW leaf collection map as of Tuesday, January 2nd. Click the photo to visit the interactive site.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) breaks Ward 3 into four sections: 3A, B, C & D. The first leaf pickup sweep in green has been completed for all sections of Ward 3. The second sweep, shown in blue, was under way in section 3A when we took the screenshot of the map above.

According to DPW, residents receive two weekends’ notice so they can prepare by raking their leaves to the tree box area or curb. Leaf pickup crews can also be tracked via the MyDPW app and social media. Or, call the Leaf Line at (202)-671-LEAF (5323).

You can report missed collections by calling 311 or visiting 311.dc.gov, and registering a “Leaf Collection Missed” service request.

Another option is not to rake at all. We know how our neighbor Kathy Sykes, our neighborhood Master Gardener, thinks about raking. And John Burwell, a Weed Warrior often seen at work along the Linnean and Broad Branch streams, goes around collecting leaves for mulching his yard.