Keep Yard Waste Curbside as Haulers Work Through Backlog
Arlington, MA · September 21, 2026
Quiet crosswalks give Monday a noticeably slower start with public schools closed for the holiday. Grab a light layer for the morning mist before heading out.
The Lead
Curbside yard waste collection across several Arlington neighborhoods is seeing widespread delays this week, prompting town officials to ask residents to keep paper leaf bags and yard bins at the curb until crews arrive. Contractor Waste Management fell behind on designated Friday and weekend collection routes following a surge in late-summer trimming.
The Department of Public Works confirmed that additional trucks are being deployed to clear the backlog street by street. Residents do not need to submit missed-pickup tickets for delayed yard waste, though standard trash and recycling schedules remain on their regular timetables. With peak autumn leaf fall approaching, town officials are coordinating with the hauler to prevent rolling bottlenecks as seasonal pruning and yard cleanups intensify. For now, the DPW asks households with uncollected bags along delayed routes to keep them curbside through Monday evening.
Local Pulse
Town Day Draws Thousands to Mass Avenue Community Saturday’s celebration brought out hundreds of families, live music, and over two hundred local booths under clear skies.
Federal Grant Performance Report Open for Comment City Hall Residents have through Friday to submit feedback on how the town allocated its annual community development funds.
Overnight Lane Closures Resume on Lake Street Roads Crews continue evening bicycle and pedestrian upgrades between 8:00 PM and 5:00 AM through Thursday night.
Today's Outlook
- High 69°F · Low 55°F — Drizzle (40% chance of precipitation)
- Keep an umbrella within reach today as passing drizzle and mild air linger through evening.
What's On Around Town
Today
Fox Walking Club Fox Branch Library (175 Massachusetts Ave), 9:00 AM · Free Brisk morning stroll along the cultural district and Minuteman Bikeway.
Kids' Food Storytime Robbins Library (700 Massachusetts Ave), 10:00 AM · Free Interactive stories, songs, and rhymes exploring healthy foods for young toddlers.
Baby-Friendly Matinee Capitol Theatre (204 Massachusetts Ave), Noon · Paid First-run screening featuring adjusted theater lighting and lower sound for caregivers.
Tomorrow
- Lexington Farmers' Market Fletcher Park, Lexington, 2:00–6:30 PM · Free
- Arlington Poetry Series Robbins Library (700 Massachusetts Ave), 7:00–8:30 PM · Free
Wednesday
- Arlington Farmers' Market Russell Common Municipal Lot, 2:00–6:30 PM · Free
- Free Screening: CODA Capitol Theatre (204 Massachusetts Ave), 7:00 PM · Free
Spotlight & Story
- Arlington Heights
- Long before 19th-century rail stops and hillside subdivisions shaped the neighborhood, locals called this western stretch "Foot of the Rocks." The name marked the sudden granite ledge where the gentle coastal plain gives way to the rocky climb toward Lexington.
Arlington Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
Sent with care by MailerDot — your city, every morning.