Medford, OR Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Medford Code § 6.525
- Collection window
- Nov. 1 to Dec. 15 annually
- Max bag weight
- 40 pounds
- Max bag size
- 30 gal. / 33in x 39in
- Pickup location
- Curb only, not private property
Summary
Medford lets residents set bagged leaves at the curb for free city pickup only from November 1 to December 15 each year. Bags are capped at 40 pounds and 30 gallons, and the City will not remove leaf bags from private property or outside that window.
(1) The City Council consents to and permits the placement of bagged leaves adjacent to the traveled portion of paved city streets from November 1 to December 15 of each calendar year.
(3) The maximum weight of any single bag filled with leaves is 40 pounds.
(4) Bags of leaves will not be removed from private property.
(5) Leaf bags shall be no more than 30 gallons in capacity, or 33 inches x 39 inches in size, and must be a minimum of 1.2 mil in thickness.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-32, passed May 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
525 of the Medford Code authorizes placing bagged leaves adjacent to the traveled portion of paved city streets from November 1 to December 15 of each calendar year, and the City removes them at public expense during that same window. 2 mil. Subsection (4) makes clear the City will not remove bags of leaves from private property; they must be placed at the curb in the right-of-way. Subsection (6) restricts what can go in a collection bag: it must contain leaves only, no other yard debris mixed in.
Subsection (7) closes the loophole both ways, barring leaf bags placed outside the November 1 to December 15 window and barring any leaves, other vegetation, or debris placed in the right-of-way at any other time except as otherwise permitted by the Code. The program was added by Ordinance No. 5731 in 1986 and amended in 1998 and 1999.
Violations & Fines
Section 6.530 declares a violation of Sections 6.330 to 6.520, which includes the leaf-bag placement rules of Section 6.525, to be a public nuisance subject to summary abatement by the Director or Chief of Police, or abatement under the procedure in Section 5.520. Placing leaf bags outside the November 1 to December 15 window, oversized bags, or bags mixed with other debris are each independently prohibited under Section 6.525(7).
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put bagged leaves out for pickup in Medford?
How heavy can a leaf bag be for Medford's curbside pickup?
Will Medford pick up leaf bags left on my driveway or yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Medford
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