By Elizabeth Barhydt
The Town of New Canaan Department of Public Works (DPW) will begin its annual leaf collection program on Monday, November 3, serving properties of one acre or less.
Who Receives Pickup
Town crews will collect leaves only from parcels zoned for one acre or smaller. Residents in two-acre and four-acre zones must compost their leaves on their own property. The DPW does not provide curbside pickup in those areas.
Leaves must be raked to the curb in a continuous windrow, not piled, and must be free of brush, branches, rocks, or debris. Plastic bags are prohibited, as they clog vacuum hoses and cause equipment failures.
Schedule and Deadlines
Collection will begin Monday, November 3 and continue through Sunday, November 30.
The final pass by collection crews will begin Monday, December 1. Leaves placed curbside after that date will not be collected.
Composting Options
Leaves collected by the Town are recycled into compost. Residents and licensed contractors may also bring leaves from New Canaan properties to the Town Composting Area on Lapham Road, near the entrance to Waveny Park.
The composting facility is open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., through Saturday, December 13.
Contractors must carry a permission form signed by the property owner, confirming the leaves originated from a New Canaan address. Forms are available from the Highway Department at 139 Lakeview Avenue or online through the Town website. Bringing leaves from outside New Canaan is prohibited and may result in loss of site privileges.
Composted material is typically made available to local residents the following spring to enrich garden soil. Bulk compost sales at year-end are reserved for the highest bidder; compost is not sold directly to individuals.
What Homeowners Should Do
Confirm zoning: Only one-acre and smaller properties receive town pickup.
Rake early: Place leaves in a curbside windrow before November 30.
Avoid contamination: Keep out brush, plastic, and non-leaf materials.
Watch the dates: The last collection run begins December 1.
Use the compost site responsibly: Bring valid forms and respect posted hours.
Residents with questions may contact the Department of Public Works at 203-594-3054 or email Tiger Mann, Director of Public Works, at Tiger.Mann@newcanaanct.gov