Raleigh discusses future options for loose leaf collection program amid resident concerns

The Raleigh City Council Work Session held on April 8, 2025, focused on the city's loose leaf collection program, addressing its challenges and exploring potential future options. Steve Halsey, Assistant Director of the Department of Transportation, presented an overview of the program, highlighting that it has not undergone significant changes since 2011, leading to increased dissatisfaction among residents.

Halsey noted that the demand for the loose leaf collection service has outpaced available resources, with the number of collection points rising by approximately 14,000 due to new single-family homes added between 2010 and 2023. This growth has resulted in longer wait times for scheduled pickups, with early collections occurring before leaves have fully fallen and late collections causing blockages on streets and storm drains.

The current loose leaf collection program operates from November to March, utilizing 61 staff members and 23 pieces of specialized equipment to manage the collection across 12 zones. On average, the city collects about 64,304 cubic yards of leaves each year, equivalent to a depth of 30 feet covering Carter Finley Stadium.

During the meeting, Halsey outlined several options for improving the program. These included maintaining the status quo, enhancing the existing program, privatizing the service, or transitioning to an enhanced yard waste collection program. The privatization model, which has seen success in Henrico County, Virginia, could potentially increase customer satisfaction but would require significant investment and a comprehensive communication strategy.

Alternatively, transitioning to an enhanced yard waste collection program, similar to a model recently implemented in Greensboro, North Carolina, would involve weekly yard waste pickups and could alleviate some of the pressures on the current loose leaf collection system.

The council's discussions underscored the need for a strategic approach to address the ongoing challenges of the loose leaf collection program, with a focus on improving service delivery and resident satisfaction. Further evaluations and decisions regarding the program's future are expected in upcoming council meetings.