Fall Leaves in Wildwood, MO: Pickup, Burning & Mulching

Wildwood’s trees put on a great show every fall, and then they end up in your yard. There’s no city leaf vacuum truck coming down the street, so it’s up to each household to bag them, mulch them, or compost them. This guide covers how leaf pickup works with Wildwood’s trash haulers, why you can’t burn leaves in the city, and the low-effort alternatives.

Rates and rules below come from the City of Wildwood’s Waste & Recycling page and the Wildwood municipal code, and are current as of October 2026. Check with your hauler before acting on anything here; this site isn’t affiliated with the city.

Does Wildwood have city leaf pickup?

No, not as a separate service. As of October 2026, the city’s Waste & Recycling page doesn’t describe a city-run leaf collection program. Leaves go out with your hauler’s optional yard waste service, the same service that takes grass clippings and branches the rest of the year. If you’re not sure whether your street or subdivision has any extra arrangement, call Wildwood City Hall at 636-458-0440.

Under the city code, “yard waste” includes leaves, grass clippings, vines, hedge and shrub trimmings, garden vegetation, and Christmas trees. It doesn’t include stumps, roots, or shrubs with the root ball still attached.

Yard waste pickup for leaves

Your trash hauler is assigned by address. Find yours on the city’s waste hauler map, or see our trash and recycling guide for the full details.

Cost (as of October 2026)

Hauler	Yard waste, monthly	Senior rate	Phone
Republic Services (most subdivisions)	$21.15	$17.98	636-947-5959
Gateway Disposal (larger rural lots)	$11.75	$9.99	314-900-2070

Yard waste is an add-on to your regular trash and recycling service. To sign up, use your Republic Services online account or Gateway’s sign-up page, or call the hauler. The senior rate is for residents 65 and older in households of two or fewer people; ask City Hall about qualifying.

How to set leaves out

• Up to 10 items a week. Each bag, container, or bundle counts as one item.
• 60 pounds or less per item. Wet leaves get heavy fast, so don’t overstuff bags.
• Use compostable bags, clearly labeled carts, or your own containers under 35 gallons with handles.
• Bundle branches to no longer than 4 feet and no thicker than 6 inches.
• Keep leaves out of your trash cart. Haulers won’t collect trash mixed with yard waste.
• Timing: out by 6:30 a.m. on pickup day, no more than 12 hours ahead, and back in by midnight.

The city says items beyond the weekly limit may cost extra. If you’ve got a big backlog of leaves after a windy week, ask your hauler how they’ll handle it before you put 25 bags at the curb.

Can you burn leaves in Wildwood?

No. Wildwood’s code is clear on this:

• Section 215.050 lists “the burning, ignition, setting afire or maintenance of the burning” of leaves, grass clippings, weeds, and other combustible materials within the city as a public nuisance. A special permit from the fire department or another authority is required for the narrow cases where burning is allowed, such as burning off large tracts of land. (Read Section 215.050)
• Section 230.020, in the solid waste chapter, makes it unlawful to burn any waste unless the city’s Director of Public Works issues a permit for an approved incinerator or for burning authorized by the air pollution control agency. (Read Section 230.020)

The nuisance section notes that it isn’t meant to ban campfires, outdoor fireplaces, or barbecue pits where they’re otherwise allowed. A fire pit isn’t a loophole for a leaf pile, though; the leaves themselves are what the code lists.

St. Louis County also has its own open burning rules enforced by the St. Louis County health department. If you think you have a special case, such as a large rural property, contact the county health department at 314-615-8924 (the number the Missouri Department of Natural Resources lists for St. Louis County) and your fire protection district before you strike a match.

Don’t blow leaves into the street or storm drains

It’s tempting to push leaves to the curb and let the rain take them. Wildwood’s code doesn’t allow it: Section 230.020 makes it unlawful to dump yard waste “into storm sewer inlets, common grounds, or other areas not approved for composting,” and into any river, stream, or spring. Leaves in storm inlets clog drains and wash into Wildwood’s creeks.

If you live in a subdivision, check with your trustees or HOA before using common ground for a leaf pile, too.

Mulch leaves into your lawn

The least work is often not bagging at all. University of Missouri Extension recommends mowing leaves right into the lawn:

1. Set your mower to its highest setting. A mulching mower works best.
2. Mow while the leaves are a little damp, like on a dewy morning.
3. Mow twice in a crisscross pattern to chop leaves into small pieces.

MU Extension says research shows a layer of leaves up to 6 inches thick can be mulched into a lawn with no ill effects. Chopped leaves also make good mulch around trees, shrubs, and garden beds.

What you shouldn’t do is leave a thick layer of whole leaves on the grass. MU Extension says it can block sunlight from the turf and trap moisture, raising the chance of lawn disease.

Compost them

Leaves are a natural fit for a backyard compost pile. MU Extension’s tips:

• Pick a well-drained spot and make the pile at least 3 feet tall. Bigger piles work better.
• Shred or chop leaves first if you can. MU Extension’s compost guide says shredded or chopped materials break down faster.
• Add a nitrogen source on top of each layer of leaves, such as a garden fertilizer, to get the pile heating up.
• Turn the pile every few weeks to mix it and add air.
• It’s done when it’s uniformly dark and no longer heats up after you turn it.

MU Extension’s guide Making and Using Compost has more detail, including how much fertilizer to add. Keep your pile on your own property and out of drainage ways and common ground.

Quick answers

Option	Allowed in Wildwood?	Notes
Hauler yard waste pickup	Yes	Optional add-on; 10 items/week, 60 lb each
Leaves in your trash cart	No	Haulers won’t take trash mixed with yard waste
Burning leaves	No	Public nuisance under city code
Blowing leaves into street drains or creeks	No	Banned under city code
Mulching into your lawn	Yes	Mow twice on the highest setting
Backyard composting	Yes	Keep it on your own property

Sources

• City of Wildwood: Waste & Recycling Services
• City of Wildwood: Waste hauler map
• City of Wildwood Municipal Code (General Code)
• Wildwood Code, Chapter 230, Article I: Definitions and Prohibited Practices (Sections 230.010–230.020)
• Wildwood Code, Section 215.050: Public Nuisances
• Missouri Department of Natural Resources: Facts on Open Burning Under Missouri Regulations (PUB2047)
• University of Missouri Extension: Mow or compost leaves for best results (October 23, 2026)
• University of Missouri Extension: Making and Using Compost (G6956)