By 1808Delaware
Westerville collected 3,298 cubic yards of leaves in 2025. By the city’s measure, that was enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Getting that much material out of neighborhoods is a substantial seasonal job. When an early snowfall arrives, it becomes more complicated. The people and equipment collecting leaves are also responsible for managing snow and ice. Now the Public Service Department is making changes to help crews handle both demands, with truck upgrades and additional staffing forming part of a multiyear plan.
When fall and winter overlap
According to the city, one of the biggest obstacles during leaf season is the time required to switch equipment between collecting leaves and treating snowy streets. A truck set up for one assignment needs to be converted before it can tackle the other. When winter weather interrupts collection, those equipment changes can delay crews working their way through the city’s leaf piles. Westerville’s plan addresses that problem by replacing older trucks with vehicles designed to change jobs more quickly.
Trucks that can change with the weather
Over the next four years, the department plans to add vehicles with interchangeable equipment that allows faster transitions between leaf collection and snow and ice work. The city’s newest truck already offers one improvement. Crews can haul large leaf collection trailers without first removing the truck’s salt spreader attachments, reducing the work needed to switch assignments.
The broader plan also includes adding staff and assigning some fleet vehicles permanently to snow and ice duties. The city says these changes are intended to help leaf crews finish on schedule even when winter weather arrives during collection season.
Where your leaves need to go
Westerville’s 2026 schedule begins Monday, October 5, with four collection rounds across three zones. The final set-out date for all zones is Monday, December 14. Residents should check their street’s zone and have leaves ready by 7:00 AM on the appropriate set-out date.
Rake leaves onto the tree lawn, the grassy strip between the sidewalk and street. Keep them out of street gutters, where they can clog drainage systems and contribute to water pollution. Piles should be free of sticks, twigs, trash and other debris that could damage equipment or injure workers. Park vehicles at least three feet away and remove nearby obstructions so crews can reach the leaves.
Find your zone, collection dates and a link to the live progress tracker on Westerville’s leaf collection
