Syracuse, NY Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Leaf rules in Syracuse come from two places, and they do not match. Section 14-21(i) of the Revised General Ordinances schedules leaf collection by the city from October 15 to November 30, says the quadrant collection week schedule does not apply during that period, and requires leaves to be raked to the curbline without blocking catch basins or impeding normal street drainage. The Department of Public Works 2026 City Services Guide lists leaves as November only and tells residents to place them in paper bags, no plastic bags, between the sidewalk and curb. The city's yard waste web page also says leaves are picked up in November and to bag them in paper.

The guide prints leaves-only set-out dates by quadrant and says materials are picked up during the week following those dates. Northeast and Southeast: Nov. 7-8 and Nov. 21-22. Northwest and Southwest: Nov. 14-15 and Nov. 28-29. Leaves are also yard waste in the monthly April to October pickup, and the guide's October yard waste set-out dates are Northeast Oct. 3-4, Southeast Oct. 10-11, Southwest Oct. 17-18 and Northwest Oct. 24-25. The guide says not to set out any materials during a time period not assigned to your quadrant. Section 14-21(b) defines the four quadrants by street lines: Erie Boulevard separates the northeast from the southeast, and Onondaga Street separates the northwest from the southwest. The city's Recycling and Trash Pick Up lookup identifies your quadrant.

Section 14-21(a) says material must be set out to curbside, not in the roadway, not blocking sidewalks and not covering or obstructing existing sewer vents, and § 14-21(h) prohibits using parkways for depositing it. The guide's keep-clear list is fire hydrants, poles, trees, vents and catch basins. The code says large paper bags designed for this purpose can be used for leaves, while the guide and the web page say to use paper bags. Neither the guide nor the web page says loose piles are collected, so paper bags are what the city prints. Under § 14-18(f)(1), yard waste including leaves is unacceptable waste excluded from D.P.W. household waste collection, so leaves stay out of the household trash pickup.

A contractor who gathers leaves must remove them: § 14-21(l) puts removal at the contractor's expense, and the guide repeats the rule. Neither the guide nor the web page prints a fee for leaf collection or a specific end date for the leaf season.