Leaf Pickup, Yard Waste, and Brush

The City of Ludington provides curbside pickup of leaves each Fall only - please do not place leaves in the street in the Spring!

2025 LEAF CORRAL HOURS: 

The Leaf Corral will be open Saturdays in April, 10am-2pm for leaf drop off. The Leaf Corral is located on Bryant Rd. across from Beechwood. Please be prepared to show proof of residency to utilize the City of Ludington Leaf Corral. Leaves are not collected curbside in the Spring - to avoid potential fines please do not rake Spring leaves to the street, (leaves may only be raked to the curb in the Fall). 

2025 Fall Leaf Collection Information for Residents:

🍁 Leaf Crews will be picking up leaves throughout the city - usually beginning in late October or early November - and will continue, weather permitting, until crews have to switch over to snowplowing. For 2025,  Roadside leaf collection will be starting the third week of October for the FALL season and will continue until crews need to switch to snow plowing due to heavy and sustained snowfall.

🍁 There is no need to contact the City for leaf collections - crews will make their way through the City streets systematically and continuously.

🍁 The leaf corral is open for a limited number of Saturdays in Oct/Nov from 10:00am - 2:00pm. For 2025, The leaf corral, located at Bryant Rd., across from Beechwood, will be open starting Monday October 13, for leaf drop off for City of Ludington residents. The hours will be 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The leaf corral will also be open Saturdays, 10am to 2pm, November 1, 8, 15, 22 for leaf drop off for City of Ludington residents. The leaf corral will be closed over the Thanksgiving weekend and for the rest of the season after that date. Any change in Open hours will be posted on the gate. 

🍁 To avoid unnecessary fines please do not pile leaves in alleyways at any time of year – DPW crews do not pick up leaves in the alleys.

City of Ludington Fall Leaf Pickup Guidelines: 

Curbside leaves will be picked up starting mid to late-October (when leaf fall is significant enough to warrant sending crews out) and will continue through until heavy, continuous snowfall (when crews have to switch over to snow plowing). Leaves are picked up in the street in the Fall only - there is No Spring curbside leaf pickup. Leaves are never collected in alleyways - please do not pile leaves in alleys. 

Placing leaves in the street in the Spring, or in alleys at any time of year, will result in code enforcement fines. During peak leaf fall (in the Autumn months only) the Department of Public Works will have several crews out all-day/every-day, however inclement weather and excessive leaf fall, may cause delays. There is no set schedule for the curbside pick-up routes as crews continuously make their way systematically through the city streets and will continue until all leaves are collected or until significant snow fall that requires crews to switch over to plowing. It is not necessary to call the Department of Public Works or the City Hall office to schedule leaf pick-up, as crews will continuously, and systematically work their way throughout the City to provide this service city-wide. Simply rake your leaves to the curb, in the Fall only, and DPW crews will be on their way! 

City residents are asked to do the following to allow the City of Ludington to provide efficient service:

Fall Only Curbside Leaf Collection:

• Leaves may be raked to the gutter, or edge of the street, for collection in the Fall at designated times only, (typically starting Oct/Nov).
• Leaves are NOT collected in the Spring. Placing piles of leaves in the right-of-way in the Spring may result in code enforcement fines.
• Leaves are never collected in the Alleys. Placing piles of leaves in the alley, at any time of year, may result in code enforcement fines.
• Keep leaves in visible piles, do not spread out or place behind mailboxes or trees, (equipment cannot reach these areas). 
• Do not place leaves out into the roadway where they will impede traffic. 
• Brush and limbs should not be mixed in with leaf piles. Mixed piles will not be collected. See more brush info below. 
• Please do not park vehicles in the street when leaf piles are in the area. This will impede and delay leaf pick-up and may result in fines.

The Leaf Corral and Yard Waste Program:

• The Leaf Corral is located on Bryant Road, across from Beechwood and is open Spring and Fall - specific dates announced each year.
• Specific open Leaf Corral dates and times will be posted at the Leaf Corral gate closer to Fall and Spring seasonal.
• The leaf corral is typically open in April for Spring leaf drop off and late October/early November for Fall leaf drop off (weather permitting and based on need due to rate of leaf fall). 
• Be prepared to prove city residency or property ownership when visiting the Leaf Corral.
• Yard Waste pick-up services are provided weekly (beginning of April through the end of November), with either special city bags or seasonal yard cart (purchase at City Hall - please call for more info regarding yard waste program fees: 231-845-6237). 
• To set up weekly yard waste pick-up residents must purchase Republic Services yard waste bags or rent a seasonal yard waste cart. 
• Paper bags purchased from any store or vendor other than Republic Services will not be collected. for more info call: 231-723-4850.
• Seasonal Yard carts and bags may be purchased at City Hall, 400 S. Harrison. Call for annual rates: 231-845-6237. Please note that there is an additional 3% fee for debit or credit card purchases. 
• Yard carts without valid annual stickers will not be serviced. 
• Yard waste will not be picked up in loose piles, in cans, paper bags from the hardware store, or plastic garbage bags. 
• Yard Waste is collected on Mondays at residences located North of Ludington Ave. and on Tuesdays at residences located South of Ludington Ave. Please be sure to have yard waste receptacle to the curb before 7am on your pick-up day or after 5pm the night before.
• Overweight yard carts cannot be emptied - please do not overload your cart. Do not place rocks, soil, cement. or pet waste in your cart or yard waste bags. Please do not put trash in your yard waste carts. These items will not be collected.
• Yard Waste collection services begin April 1 and continues through the end of November (weather permitting).