Leaf it to the city: Here’s what to do with fallen foliage in Modesto
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- City crews collect street leaves in December; no set schedule, service varies.
- Keep leaves 18 inches from curbs, never block drains; use green bin year-round.
- Experts advise leaving or relocating leaves to protect insects, soil and waterways.
When leaves fall to the ground during Modesto’s autumn, where do they go? Do they slowly decompose or drift away with the wind’s blow?
In December, it’s Modesto’s leaf collection crews that gather fallen leaves. Here’s how to prepare your yard for pickup:
- Keep leaves 18 inches from the curb, so rain can reach storm drains. Never place leaves on or near the drains.
- Do not place leaves in alleys. Crews collect leaves from the street only.
- Wait for the street sweeper before raking or piling any remaining leaves or debris. Piles left beforehand can’t be picked up by the street sweeper.
- After street collection, place small leftover debris in your organic waste container.
“Leaf collection crews work six days a week, moving as quickly as possible so they can service more neighborhoods throughout the City,” reads the city’s website.
There is no set schedule for leaf pickup, though the scheduling process factors in the trash collection schedule for each neighborhood. Collection sometimes extends into January depending on weather conditions.
If you don’t want to wait until December, you can place leaves in your green bin for collection on your regular trash day.
In December, city crews collect leaves only — no other green waste such as prunings, trimmings, sticks or branches. Large green waste collection runs January through November. Use the city’s lookup tool at modestogov.com/404/Haulers-Pickup-Schedules to find your pickup days.
To leave or not to leave?
Recent research shows that leaving fallen leaves in your yard is better for the ecosystem and the soil. Removing or shredding leaves drastically reduces the number and diversity of insects like spiders, beetles and moths, which can serve as pest control and pollination. Fallen leaves also create overwintering habitats where organisms can survive or pass through the winter.
If you must rake leaves, it’s recommended to relocate them to another part of your yard instead of composting or shredding them.
Leaves should never be blown or raked into storm drains. Doing so can clog sewers and cause street flooding. If left to decay in the drains, the leaves can release excess nutrients that harm local waterways.
Anita Benjamin, community manager and resident of a Modesto apartment complex, said leaf-related flooding has been a problem for at least the 14 years she’s been at the property.
However, she thinks the issue boils down to Modesto’s sewer system. She said she’s spoken with the city about it but there isn’t really anything it can do because it can’t control tree debris falling around the street sewers.
“When all the leaves on the sides… drain down to the sewage, it blocks it, and it backs up onto our property,” Benjamin said.
She’s seen sandbags used around the drains but believes the city should pump the sewer system during heavy rains and invest in upgrades.
“Trees are going to change by the season,” she said. “But again…it’s controlled by the city, so it’s their place to make sure that trees are trimmed, the debris is picked up.”
This story was originally published November 12, 2025 at 1:48 PM.
