Overview

• Municipal crews handle leaves on roadways while residents must clear adjacent sidewalks, as set out in city street-cleaning statutes.
• Street-collected leaves are treated as residual waste due to traffic pollutants, whereas leaves from sidewalks and gardens may go to compost or the biowaste bin.
• Leipzig warns that sweeping private or street-tree leaves onto roads or sidewalks is prohibited and can lead to fines.
• Cities are using leaf blowers and sweepers, with Dresden fielding about 80 staff and expecting roughly 1,500 tonnes of leaves depending on weather.
• Seasonal options include Chemnitz’s €3, 60‑liter leaf sack available Sep 15–Dec 15, free drop-off of up to one cubic meter in Leipzig from October to December, and free acceptance of street-tree leaves at Dresden facilities.