The top does not close, but the leaves do not fall out unless you overfill it. These bags are quite large so overfilling them will make them heavy. Wire is inside a casing around the entire top, and that is what makes the bags stand open for raking into. There is a strap near the top for lifting and carrying the bag upright. The strap near the bottom facilitates 'tipping' the bag to dump the contents. I have used mine for 2 years now and am SO PLEASED with them. They make MUCH faster work of corralling and composting leaves from my 23 very mature forest trees on my 1/3 acre property.