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Erie, PA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified October 2026

Key Facts

2026 leaf season
Sunday, Oct. 4 to Thursday, Dec. 3
Code container rule
Open rigid containers at curbside (§ 951.13)
2026 bag rule
Pale green compostable bags meeting ASTM D6400
Not accepted
Cardboard boxes, other non-compostable bags, pet waste, cat litter
Raking into streets
City guidance says do not rake leaves into city streets
Burning leaf waste
Prohibited at any time within the City (QOL-31)
§ 951.13 penalty
$100 to $1,000 fine, up to 90 days (§ 951.99)

Summary

Erie collects residential leaves from Sunday, Oct. 4 to Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026. Code § 951.13 puts leaves in open rigid containers at curbside, and § 958.10 bars mixing them with household waste. The City's 2026 guidance also accepts pale green compostable bags that meet ASTM D6400 and tells residents not to rake leaves into city streets.

§ 951.13. Collection of leaves. ... On every premises from which garbage and rubbish are collected, there shall also be a collection of leaves. Such leaves shall be placed in open rigid containers and deposited at curbside. ... § 958.10. Separation and disposal of leaf waste. ... No resident shall dispose of leaf waste with ordinary household waste or materials to be recycled. Leaf waste shall be separated from other municipal waste generated at homes, apartments and other residential establishments. Leaf waste shall be collected in accordance with the regulations attached to original Ordinance 59-1990, passed August 22, 1990.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Erie's leaf rule has two layers: the Codified Ordinances set the baseline, and the City's Bureau of Refuse page and 2026 Calendar & Recycling Guide print the season. Section 951.13 says every premises that receives garbage and rubbish collection also receives a collection of leaves, and that the leaves go in open rigid containers deposited at curbside. Section 958.10 adds that no resident shall dispose of leaf waste with ordinary household waste or with materials to be recycled. Section 958.02 defines leaf waste as leaves from trees, bushes and other plants, garden residue, and chipped shrubbery and tree trimmings, and it excludes grass clippings.

The code prints no start date, end date or pickup day for leaves. Section 958.10 sends collection to the regulations attached to Ordinance 59-1990, passed August 22, 1990. Section 958.04(a) authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Works, Parks and Property to establish regulations on the manner, days and times of collections of recyclable materials, and § 958.04(b)(4) lists separation, collection and composting of leaf waste among the topics the regulations shall include. Section 951.14 places lawn and leaf waste in the composting program run by the Bureau of Refuse and Recycling and says the manner of collection and the types of bags or containers may be altered by administrative regulations. Section 951.15 separately authorizes regulations on the manner, days and times of collections of refuse.

For 2026, the Bureau of Refuse page and the Calendar & Recycling Guide print the same leaf season: Sunday, Oct. 4 to Thursday, Dec. 3. Both say to use compostable pale green bags that meet ASTM D6400 standards or open, hard containers, and both bar cardboard boxes and any other non-compostable refuse or recycling bag. Pet waste and cat litter stay out of the leaves, and grass and leaves stay out of refuse. Section 951.13 itself names only open rigid containers. The Bureau also says that, no matter what item is placed on the curb for collection, nothing is to be out more than 24 hours prior to the collection day per City code.

The refuse page lists a link labeled Trash Pickup Map PDF, and neither document prints a leaf pickup day or zone schedule.

Violations & Fines

A violation of § 951.13 is punished under § 951.99: a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 and imprisonment of not more than 90 days. Section 951.99 limits violations of § 951.06 to a fine only. Article 958, which holds § 958.10, is enforced under § 958.14(a) with a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $300 plus costs of prosecution per offense. Burning leaf waste is a separate violation, QOL-31, fined $25, $50 and $100 for a first, second and third offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Erie collect leaves in fall 2026?
The Bureau of Refuse page tells residents to place leaves out on the curb from Sunday, Oct. 4 to Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, and the 2026 Calendar & Recycling Guide prints the same leaf season. Neither document prints a pickup day or zone schedule. Section 951.13 gives every premises with garbage and rubbish collection a collection of leaves, and § 958.04(b)(4) lists collection of leaf waste among the topics the Director's regulations include.
Do I bag leaves or use a container in Erie?
Section 951.13 names open rigid containers. The City's 2026 guidance adds compostable pale green bags that meet ASTM D6400 standards and bars cardboard boxes and any other non-compostable refuse or recycling bag. The calendar's compost entry lists open hard containers with a 50 lb. limit or compostable brown paper (lawn & leaf) bags. Open hard containers are the one option every list shares.
Can I rake leaves into the street for pickup?
No. The refuse page and the calendar both say DO NOT rake leaves into city streets, because it creates a hazardous situation for cars, motorcycles, cyclists, walkers and runners, wet leaves cause slippery conditions, and leaves clog catch basins and storm inlets. QOL-5 bars depositing litter or rubbish in a public street, and the § 1129.09 table lists it at $100. Section 1129.02 counts improperly discarded yard waste as litter, though QOL-5 does not name leaves.
Can I burn leaves in Erie?
No. Section 1129.03, QOL-31(b), says no person shall be permitted to burn garbage, recyclable materials, leaf waste or grass clippings at any time within the City. QOL-31(a) separately requires a permit from the City or other proper authorization for any bonfire or rubbish fire. The § 1129.09 table sets the illegal burning fine at $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second and $100 for a third.
Do grass clippings count as leaf waste?
No. Section 958.02 says leaf waste shall not include grass clippings. The leaf-season guidance says to keep grass and leaves out of your refuse. The calendar's compost entry, Sunday, Mar. 8 to Thursday, Dec. 3, lists grass clippings, hedge trimmings, shrub trimmings, garden clippings and leaves as acceptable compost, and says loose large limbs or branches will not be picked up.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Erie

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingSignificant RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsPickup Rules & SchedulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Groomer RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterSome Restrictions

All Erie rules

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