City of Bloomington announces fall leaf collection schedule

BLOOMINGTON, IL – The City of Bloomington will begin its annual fall leaf vacuum collection on Monday, November 2, 2026, starting with Zone 1 Orange.

Crews will follow the city's regular bulk and brush collection routes, completing one zone before moving to the next. Collection will begin in Zone 1 Orange, followed by Zone 2 Orange, and continue through the established route schedule. Each zone may take several days to complete, depending on the volume of leaves and weather conditions.

The leaf collection season runs November 2 through December 30. The City anticipates completing two collection cycles throughout the city during that time, weather permitting. Weekly progress updates will be provided so residents can track collection activity in their zone.

Residents are asked to follow these guidelines to help crews collect leaves safely and efficiently:

• Rake leaves to the back of the curb, along the grass, curb edge or driveway edge.
• Do not bag leaves. Leaves must be loose for vacuum collection.
• Keep leaf piles no more than three feet high.
• Do not place leaves in the street or block storm drains, sidewalks or traffic.
• Keep leaf piles away from mailboxes, utility poles and other obstructions.
• Do not mix sticks, branches or other debris with leaves. Place sticks and branches separately for bulk and brush collection.

Residents are encouraged to have leaves ready as crews approach their zone. Because collection times depend on leaf volume and weather, specific pickup dates cannot be guaranteed.