Survey Finds Increase in People Leaving the Leaves; One-Third Still Throw Away Six or More Trash Bags Per Season

RESTON, Va. - An annual National Wildlife Federation survey found that more people are leaving their leaves where they fall, with 18 percent of respondents reporting they don't collect or remove fallen leaves, an increase from 15 percent in 2024. While this indicates a positive trend in sustainable landscaping, a third of respondents (32 percent) are still throwing away 6 or more trash bags of leaves per season. Leaving leaves reduces landfill waste while benefitting insects and wildlife that use the leaf layer to survive the winter.

The third annual Leave the Leaves Month survey found that an overwhelming majority of respondents (72 percent) dispose of at least 1 bag of leaves in the trash and 12 percent are throwing away more than 10 bags of leaves per season. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leaves and other yard debris account for 12 percent of the nation's municipal solid waste with more than 10 million tons of yard waste buried in the landfill every year. When buried, this organic matter releases methane gas as it decomposes without oxygen. Methane is more than 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere.

"Leaving leaves where they fall benefits wildlife, insects and ecosystems while reducing waste and methane emissions. However, for those who can't leave their leaves right where they fall, it's still important to reduce the amount you throw in the trash," said David Mizejewski, naturalist for the National Wildlife Federation. "Although it's best to let leaves lie, the most important thing is keeping them out of the landfill. Keeping fallen leaves on your property still benefits wildlife and the environment by using them as natural mulch, in compost piles, or simply relocating them to another area of your yard."

If you can't, or don't want to, leave the leaves, you have options

While the most natural way to enhance and preserve the ecosystem created by fall leaves is to leave them alone, HOA or local requirements may prevent homeowners from doing this. The next best solution is to rake leaves directly into garden beds to create a natural mulch layer that preserves soil moisture, suppresses weeds and naturally composts, returning nutrients directly to plant roots.

Homeowners can also add them to a compost pile and let them decompose over the course of the year. That resulting compost can then be applied to lawns or garden beds for a spring boost. If those options still don't work, mowers can chop leaves in place and return them to the soil.

"Nearly everyone we've surveyed is willing to leave or repurpose leaves to benefit wildlife and the environment, and that's something to celebrate," said Mary Phillips, head of National Wildlife Federation native plant habitat impact and certifications. "The next step is to put that enthusiasm into action. Leaving, or even repurposing, leaves creates habitat for wildlife such as declining firefly populations, endangered bat species, caterpillars and salamanders. By throwing away our leaves, we create ripple effects in the microhabitats of our yards, eliminating an important food source for songbirds that forage for insects and seeds among the leaves."

The 2025 Leave the Leaves Month survey interviewed 1,451 people between the ages of 18 and over 65 living across the United States. Survey findings include:

• 79 percent of respondents own their home
• 40 percent are required to rake their leaves by either a homeowner's association, a city or municipality ordinance, or a combination of both
• 18 percent of respondents leave their leaves in their yard
• 64 percent maintain their yard and/or garden on their own without the help of a landscape company
• 46 percent are using collected leaves for mulch or compost
• 12 percent of those surveyed dispose of more than 10 bags of leaves per year in the trash, with 20 percent disposing between 6 to 10 per year, and 40 percent disposing between one and five bags.
• 24 percent are worried about fallen leaves smothering or ruining their lawn.
• 27 percent remove their leaves because they don't like the way fallen leaves look in the yard.
• 24 percent said they'd leave or repurpose leaves to save time raking, and 18 percent said they'd do so to save money on mulch and compost
• 90 percent of people are willing to leave or repurpose leaves to benefit wildlife and the environment

You can view 2024 survey results here.

National Wildlife Federation thanks its Certified Wildlife Habitat Champion Partner, Wild Birds Unlimited for its support and promoting Leave the Leaves Month.