Kalamazoo Reverses Leaf Pick-Up Route This Fall

Households on the east side of Kalamazoo will see crews first, as pick-up moves west after last winter's snow disruption.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Landscaping

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a leaf pile along a concrete curb in front of softly blurred houses under soft autumn light. — The City of Kalamazoo began leaf pick-up on November 2 on the east side, reversing last year's route after snow last winter left muddy piles behind. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The City of Kalamazoo began its leaf pick-up on November 2, 2026, starting on the east side of the city and moving west this year, the reverse of last year's direction.

Why it matters

Heavy snow in November 2025 forced crews to switch to snow removal before all leaves were collected, and the remaining leaves sat muddy on the east side in January and February 2026. Reversing the route is meant to keep the same households from facing weather-related leaf problems two years running.

The fall 2025 and spring 2026 collection gathered over 20,000 cubic yards of leaf material, more than in either of the two previous seasons. The city started this year's pick-up on November 2, 2026, on the east side of Kalamazoo.

The players

City of Kalamazoo

The city's public works crews run the municipal leaf collection program for Kalamazoo residents.

The details

Crews begin on the east side of the city and work west, moving from Zone A to Zone B and then to Zone C to remove leaves. Last year's pick-up ran in the opposite direction, and heavy November 2025 snow pushed crews onto snow removal before the job was finished. The change in direction is intended to address the muddy leftover piles on the east side that residents faced in January and February 2026.

November 2025: heavy snow forces crews to switch from leaf pick-up to snow removal.
January and February 2026: remaining leaves are collected, leaving a muddy mess on the east side.
Fall 2025 and spring 2026: over 20,000 cubic yards of leaves are collected.
November 2, 2026: leaf pick-up begins on the east side of Kalamazoo.

The Home Front

Municipal leaf collection is a recurring fall service that property owners plan around, and weather disruptions can leave yard debris on the curb well into winter. Changing the route order is a local operational adjustment rather than a shift in the overall program.

If you live on the east side of Kalamazoo, expect crews to reach you first this season, so have leaves raked to the curb ahead of your zone's date. Households farther west should plan for pick-up to arrive later in the season.

The takeaway

Set a reminder for your zone's pick-up date and keep leaves at the curb before crews arrive, especially if your neighborhood was hit by muddy piles last winter. Keeping yard debris off the street through a heavy snow season helps prevent the leftover mess residents saw in early 2026.