Public Works

Leaf Collection 2026

2026 Weekly Leaf Collection Schedule is now available.

*Leaf collection for Center Street, Court Street, Main Street (Central Square to Rt. 101), Summer Street, Washington Street, and Winter Street will take place on Tuesday, November 24, 2026 from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM on Wednesday, November 25, 2026. There will be no parking permitted on these streets to facilitate this work.*

Leaf Collection Info:

Rake in fall leaves

There is no daily schedule provided, crews work daily 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Rake leaves to the edge of your lawn by your listed date to make sure they’re collected. Keep in mind, the listed date marks when collection starts in your area, not the exact day crews visit your street. You may add leaves to the edge of your lawn until crews collect from your street. If crews have already collected leaves from your street, there is no guarantee that they will return to collect a second time. 

Important Reminders: 

  • If you have a stormwater basin marked with a yellow fish, please clear debris to prevent drainage issues. Please do not rake leaves over basins. This assistance will help to prevent flooding and potential hazardous situations.
  • Do not place leaves in the street; it’s unsafe, violates City Ordinance, and may result in a citation.
  • Leaves should be left loose (not bagged) along the grass belt (between street and sidewalk) or at the edge of the property if no sidewalk.
  • Only loose leaves and pine needles will be collected. Keep tree branches and brush separate; they aren’t part of leaf collection. Branches and brush can damage equipment and delay the collection schedule.
  • After crews collect leaves and clear drains, please avoid raking more leaves to the curb. Doing so will cause storm drains to clog.
  • You can drop off leaves for free at the Keene Recycling Center, 55 Old Summit Road, off Route 12 North: Monday-Friday 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Saturdays 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Streets with “n/a” are private or do not have City drainage systems; leaves will not be collected from these streets.

Please contact our office with any further questions/concerns at 603-352-6550 or send us an email.

Composting Information:

The City composts the leaves collected each fall and uses the finished compost for City operations. We also make it available to the public free of charge. Piles of finished compost are available at the Keene Recycling Center and the Public Works main office on Marlboro Street.

Please Note: Because this compost is made exclusively from leaves, it contains fewer plant-available nutrients than compost made from a variety of materials. It is excellent for improving soil structure and helping soil retain moisture, but it does not replace the need for fertilizer. Additionally, because no nitrogen source is added, the compost pile may not reach temperatures high enough to kill weed seeds.