Bristol, CT Leaf Collection Guide 2026 Dates, Bag Rules & Options

Quick answer: The City of Bristol, CT collects leaves curbside in spring and fall at no extra cost for homes that get city trash and recycling pickup. Leaves must be in brown paper leaf bags placed at the curb. Plastic bags and loose piles are not collected. The fall 2026 collection began October 13 and runs through December 4, 2026, weather permitting. Spring collection typically runs in April.

1. Bristol curbside leaf collection: dates & rules

Bristol Public Works runs curbside leaf collection twice a year:

• Fall 2026: Tuesday, October 13 through Friday, December 4, 2026 (weather permitting, subject to change).
• Spring: typically the month of April. Spring 2026 collection started the week of April 6. Watch the city's site for spring 2027 dates.

Who can use it

Every Bristol residence that gets curbside rubbish and recycling service from the city.

The bag rules

• Brown, recyclable paper leaf bags only. They're sold at most home and garden stores.
• No plastic bags and no loose leaf piles. They won't be picked up.
• Leaves only. Bags with dirt, sand, rocks, sod or anything other than leaves are rejected.
• No bag limit. Set bags at the curb (not on your lawn) as they fill, and leave them there until they're collected.

Also, the city asks residents to keep the tops of catch basins next to their property clear of leaves during the fall to help prevent localized flooding.

2. Bristol yard waste barrel subscription

If you'd rather not bag leaves, Bristol offers a paid yard waste subscription:

• Cost: $90 per year (not pro-rated), plus a $50 barrel deposit for new customers.
• What you get: a 95-gallon green yard waste barrel, collected weekly (typically two days after your regular trash day) during the yard waste season, early April through early December. The 2026 season runs April 6 through December 4.
• What goes in: leaves, grass clippings, woodchips and twigs no thicker than 1 inch and no longer than 12 inches. No bagged yard waste, dirt, sod, rocks or trash.
• Rules: the barrel needs a current sticker, must be at the curb by 6 a.m. and 5 feet from other barrels, and must weigh under 300 lb. Contents have to fall out freely when it's tipped.

One 95-gallon barrel a week works for grass clippings. For a big fall leaf drop, most treed Bristol yards produce far more leaves than a single barrel can hold.

3. Bristol brush & branch pickup

• By appointment during yard waste season (roughly the first week of April through the first week of December). No winter pickup.
• Branches must be under 6 inches in diameter, cut to 4-foot lengths and tied in bundles one person can lift. The whole pile can be no bigger than 4 ft × 4 ft × 4 ft. Loose piles aren't collected.
• Pickups happen on Wednesdays (Thursdays in holiday weeks). Put brush at the curb no earlier than 24 hours ahead and by 6:00 a.m. on your appointment day.
• Book through Bristol Public Works at (860) 584-6125 or online through the city.

4. Dropping off leaves yourself

Leaves, grass and twigs can be taken to the City of Bristol Solid Waste Transfer Station. A residential Transfer Station permit is required, and anything bagged in something other than paper yard waste bags must be emptied out. The city's compost facility is listed on Lake Avenue. Call Public Works at (860) 584-6125 to confirm current hours and permit rules before you load up the car.

5. Tips for Bristol homeowners

• Don't let bags sit on the lawn. Bags left on grass for weeks smother it. Put them at the curb, as the city asks.
• Keep leaves out of the street and storm drains. Leaves washed into catch basins cause the flooding the city is trying to prevent.
• Mulch only light layers. Mowing a thin layer of leaves into the lawn is fine. Not sure which approach fits your yard? Read mulch, bag, or haul away. Heavy layers under Bristol's oaks and maples need to be removed, or they'll mat down and kill grass over winter.
• Beat the deadline. The last fall pickup date is weather-dependent. Snow can end the season early, and leaves still on the ground stay there until April.

6. The no-bag option: hire a leaf removal crew

A big Bristol yard can mean dozens of paper bags, several weekends of raking and a curb lined with bags for weeks. Professional leaf removal skips all of it. We blow and rake out the lawn, beds and driveway, load the leaves onto our truck and haul them away the same day. You don't need bags or a barrel subscription, and you don't have to wait for the truck.

Bristol leaf collection FAQ

Sources:City of Bristol: Leaf Collection, City of Bristol: Brush/Branch Pickup, and Bristol Public Works announcements reported by The Bristol Edition (Oct. 2026) and The Bristol Edition (Jan. 2026). Dates and fees are set by the city and can change. Confirm with Bristol Public Works at (860) 584-6125. Leaf Removal Bristol CT is a private company and is not affiliated with the City of Bristol.