New Jersey. They do collect the leaves and compost them. Then free compost is available to residents. Two of the places I lived did it on a county-wide basis, the third did it as a partnership with another town. They also grind up tree limbs, and as a result free wood chips are also available.
I try to leave as many of the leaves as I can. Some get mucked into the lawn, some left or places in garden bed areas. Mainly for mulch/winter protection and also a habitat for insects, which the birds will be thankful for in the spring.
But most people do utilize landscapers and all their leaves are blown to the curb.
