Cary's free loose leaf pickup starts Monday, Nov. 2, with rounds beginning Nov. 30 and Jan. 4. Rake to the curb by 7 a.m., up to a week ahead.

Cary’s free loose leaf collection starts Monday, Nov. 2. Crews will make three passes along every town street between November and February, the town said in an Oct. 19 news release.

There are no set dates for individual streets. Crews work zone by zone, and each round can take several weeks. A live map on the town’s loose leaf collection page shows where they have been.

The dates

Round Begins
Round 1 Monday, Nov. 2, 2026
Round 2 Monday, Nov. 30, 2026
Round 3 Monday, Jan. 4, 2027

After the third round, the town will collect leaves by request at no charge from Feb. 8 through March 31, 2027. Call Cary 311 to ask. A fee applies to requests after March 31, the town said.

Timeline of Cary's 2026-27 loose leaf collection: round 1 begins Nov. 2, round 2 Nov. 30, round 3 Jan. 4, 2027; pickup by request at no charge Feb. 8 through March 31; a fee applies after March 31.
Cary's loose leaf collection dates for the 2026-27 season. Graphic by Cary Daily
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How to put leaves out

Leaves must be at the curb and out of the road by 7 a.m. You can put them out up to one week before each round begins.

Keep piles clear of:

  • sidewalks and storm drains
  • water meters, fire hydrants and sewer clean-outs
  • mailboxes and parked cars

Keep sticks, rocks, trash and other debris out of the piles, the town said.

You may see Public Works crews out with leaf trucks before Nov. 2. That is annual training, not the first round, the town said. Crews will come back when the season starts.

Other ways to get rid of leaves

  • Weekly yard waste pickup: put leaves in reusable containers or brown paper bags on your regular yard waste day. Plastic bags are not collected, according to the town’s yard waste page.
  • Compost them at home. Check your HOA’s rules on yard waste first.
  • Leave them in a natural corner of the yard, where the town says they give wildlife food and shelter.

What it means for you

  • Rake by Monday, Nov. 2, if you want your leaves in the first round. The earliest you can put them out is Monday, Oct. 26.
  • Do not rake into the street. Leaves in the road can block storm drains.
  • Missed a round? Two more follow, and by-request pickup runs into March.
  • Questions: dial 311 in Cary, call 919-469-4000 from outside town limits or email 311@carync.gov.

Your regular trash, recycling and yard waste days are on our Cary trash and recycling guide.