Lexington's expanded weekly leaf pickup started this week. Use the gray cart, then paper bags. No yard waste is collected Thanksgiving week, Nov. 23-27.

Lexington started expanded weekly yard waste pickup this week to keep up with falling leaves, the city announced Wednesday. Contractors are now helping the Division of Waste Management collect bags of leaves.

If you have city collection, leaves still go out on your regular day. Fill your gray yard cart first, then use paper yard waste bags. Plastic bags are not allowed.

How pickup works this fall

Carts and bags are now picked up separately, at different times on your collection day. Waste Management trucks take the carts. Contractor crews take the bags. The city said:

  • bag crews work until 5:30 p.m., so wait until after 5:30 p.m. to report missed bags
  • if your bags are missed, call LexCall at 311 and leave them at the curb until a crew comes
  • if you set out more than 75 bags, call LexCall at 311 to request a large pickup
  • if you have no gray cart, or yours is broken, call 311 or use LexCall online

Loose leaves will not be picked up. Do not rake leaves to the curb in piles, and never put them in the street. The city said leaves in the street clog storm drains, which leads to flooding and traffic hazards.

No yard waste pickup Thanksgiving week

No yard waste carts, bags or bundles will be collected during Thanksgiving week, Monday, Nov. 23, to Friday, Nov. 27.

Trash and recycling will be picked up that week Monday to Wednesday. Wednesday, Nov. 25, is the makeup day for Thursday and Friday routes. Our trash and recycling guide has the full holiday schedule.

Drop leaves off free at Haley Pike

You can take yard waste and leaves to the Haley Pike Waste Management Facility, 4216 Hedger Lane.

  • Open: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Arrive by 5 p.m.
  • Closed: Wednesdays, weekends and holidays
  • Cost: Fayette County residents get two free pickup truck loads a month all year. Through the end of 2026, the city is waiving the fee for extra loads too.
  • Bring: proof that you live in Fayette County

Free leaf chutes, while they last

The city has a limited number of free leaf chutes, which funnel leaves into a cart or bag. There is a limit of one per household. Pick one up at:

Where Hours
Electronics Recycling Center, 1306 Versailles Road 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday; 8 a.m. to noon Saturday
Lexington Senior Center, 195 Life Lane 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday

Or leave them on the lawn

You do not have to rake at all. The city said leaves can stay on the lawn or be mulched with any mower, which feeds the grass. Leaves also work in a backyard compost pile.

What it means for you

Set leaves out in the gray cart or paper bags on your normal collection day, and expect the bags to be picked up later than the carts. Get leaves out before Nov. 23 if you can, because none are collected Thanksgiving week.

To find your collection day, see our trash and recycling guide.