City of St. Charles Leaf Collection Program Begins Oct. 28

Published on October 07, 2026

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Program Includes Three Curbside Collections, Plus Free Bagged Collection Nov. 30 through Dec. 29

The City of St. Charles Leaf Collection Program begins Oct. 28, 2026, on the west side of the Fox River. The City’s contractor, Kramer Tree Specialists, will complete three collection cycles of the city with an anticipated completion date of Dec. 5.

City residents can track the daily progress of the collection crews using the progress map on the City’s website. In addition to curbside collections, Lakeshore Recycling Systems will provide free bagged leaf collection November 30 through December 29 on regular refuse collection days.

Leaf Collection Guidelines

  • Have leaves on the parkway by 6:30 a.m. on the beginning day of pickup for their area. It may take three to four days for leaves to be collected in a specific area, depending on the volume of leaves and weather conditions.
  • No leaf piles will be picked up if obstructed by parked vehicles or other obstacles. Once the obstruction has been removed, the piles will be picked up during a resident’s next scheduled collection date.
  • Inclement weather or a large volume of leaves could alter the leaf pickup schedule.
  • A smaller truck will collect leaves in cul-de-sacs.
  • Rake leaves in a row parallel to the street, ensuring they are at least 1 foot back from the curb and clear of the sidewalk. (Raking leaves into the street can clog storm sewers and cause flooding and is a violation punishable by a fine up to $500 for each offense.)
  • Avoid raking foreign materials into leaf piles as these could damage equipment or cause injury to personnel.
  • Maintain approximately 10 feet between leaf piles and permanent structures, such as firehydrants, trees and streetlight poles.
  • Leaf piles will not kill grass although they may cause it to discolor.

A Note about Weather Delays

Chicago-area weather can change quickly, especially in late fall. Rain, snow or freezing temperatures may delay collection. Leaf collection in St. Charles is a large-scale operation and productivity schedules can be significantly impacted by weather events. A consistent stretch of favorable weather is needed to complete the program efficiently.

Areas Not Included in Program

The St. Charles Leaf Collection Program is funded by a portion of the fee collected on the utility bills of eligible homeowners. Residents should check their utility bill or call Utility Billing at 630.377.4426 with questions about their eligibility for the program.

No leaf collections are available for the following subdivisions/areas:

  • Cumberland Green
  • Whittington Course, Royal Fox private streets, Dunham Place Commons, Delnor Townhomes, Delnor Glen Drive
  • Townes of Fox Chase
  • Walnut Hill Townhomes
  • Viewpointe
  • Willowgate
  • Wildrose Springs Townhomes, Auburn Court, Benham Court, Oak Crest
  • Brownstones

For more information about the program, visit stcharlesil.gov, or contact the City’s Public Works Department at 630.377.4405 or pw@stcharlesil.gov, or Kramer Tree Specialists at 630.293.5444.

 

 

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