Every spring, I watch the same thing happen. Someone stuffs branches into black plastic bags, puts them at the curb, and wonders why they’re still sitting there a week later. After 25 years in waste management, I can tell you yard waste is one of the most misunderstood categories. It has its own rules, and those rules vary wildly by location.
The good news: once you know the system, yard waste is actually one of the easiest things to get rid of.
What Counts as Yard Waste?
This distinction matters because putting the wrong stuff in yard waste means it won’t get picked up, or worse, you’ll contaminate a whole batch of compost.
Usually accepted as yard waste:
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Small branches and twigs (size limits vary)
- Weeds and garden plants
- Brush and hedge trimmings
- Pine needles and pine cones
Usually NOT yard waste:
- Dirt and soil
- Rocks and gravel
- Sod
- Tree stumps
- Large logs
- Treated or painted wood
Dirt, rocks, and stumps are NOT yard waste. They typically need to go to a transfer station or clean fill site. I've seen entire truckloads rejected because someone mixed in a few buckets of soil.
Option 1: Municipal Yard Waste Pickup
Most cities and suburban areas offer yard waste collection, either weekly during growing season or on a set schedule. This is the easiest option for regular maintenance.
How it typically works:
- Yard waste goes in paper bags, special bins, or bundled with twine
- Pickup is separate from regular trash
- Branch size limits (usually 4 feet long, 4 inches diameter)
- No plastic bags ever
The first pickup after winter is always slammed. In my county, wait times can stretch to three weeks. If you have a lot of debris, consider making a transfer station run instead of waiting.
Finding your local program:
Check your city’s website for the schedule and rules. Some areas require you to buy special yard waste stickers or use designated bins. If you can’t find information online, call 311 or your public works department.
Option 2: Transfer Station Drop-Off
For larger amounts of yard waste, or if you missed curbside pickup, most transfer stations accept yard debris. This is my go-to method for spring cleanup.
What to expect:
- Often cheaper than regular trash (sometimes free for small loads)
- May need to separate branches from leaves/grass
- Usually charged by weight or volume
- Some facilities have size limits on branches
| Load Size | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Car trunk / small pickup | Free - $10 |
| Standard pickup load | $10-20 |
| Trailer load | $20-40 |
| Large debris pile | By weight |
Use our interactive map to find transfer stations near you, or browse by state: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia.
Go early on a weekday. Saturday mornings at transfer stations during spring cleanup are brutal. I've seen lines stretch half a mile. Tuesday at 8 AM? Usually in and out in 10 minutes.
Option 3: Composting
If you have space, composting is free and produces useful material for your garden. I’ve been composting for 15 years, and it’s easier than most people think.
Easy composting basics:
- Mix “greens” (grass clippings, food scraps) with “browns” (leaves, small twigs)
- Keep the pile moist but not soaked
- Turn it occasionally with a pitchfork
- Takes 2-6 months to break down
Leaves are especially valuable for composting. If you have more than you can use, many neighbors with gardens will happily take them. I used to bag mine and leave them at the curb with a “FREE” sign—they’d be gone within hours.
The EPA composting guide has detailed instructions if you want to get serious about it.
Don't have space for a compost bin? Many cities offer community composting programs. Check your local government website or search "[your city] community compost."
Option 4: Mulching
Got a lot of branches? Rent a wood chipper and turn them into mulch. Home Depot, Lowe’s, and local equipment rental places typically charge $75-150 per day.
Why it’s worth considering:
- Saves disposal costs
- Produces valuable mulch for garden beds
- Handles branches that are too big for curbside
- Can process a massive brush pile in a few hours
Wood chippers are powerful and dangerous. Never chip branches with disease or pest problems—you'll spread the issue throughout your property. Wear safety glasses and ear protection, and never reach into the feed chute.
Branch Size Limits
Most curbside programs and transfer stations have branch size limits. Exceeding these limits is the number one reason yard waste gets left at the curb.
| Program Type | Typical Limit |
|---|---|
| Curbside pickup | 4 ft long, 4” diameter |
| Transfer station | 6 ft long, 6” diameter |
| Brush drop-off sites | Often no limit |
Anything bigger usually needs to be cut down or taken to a specific brush disposal site. Some areas have free chipping events where you can bring larger branches—check your county’s website.
Bundle branches with natural fiber twine, not wire or plastic. Bundles should be no more than 4 feet long and 2 feet in diameter. The crews have to lift them, so keep the weight reasonable.
Dealing With Tree Removal
If you had a tree taken down, you’re dealing with a different scale of debris. I’ve helped people dispose of tree removal waste hundreds of times, and here’s what I’ve learned.
Options:
- Have the tree company haul it away: Usually included or extra $100-300. Worth it.
- Keep the logs for firewood: If it’s oak, hickory, or another good burning species
- Rent a chipper for branches: See Option 4 above
- Take loads to a transfer station: Expect multiple trips with a truck
Post free firewood on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. In my experience, hardwood logs disappear within 24 hours. People will even cut them up and haul them away themselves.
What NOT to Do
I've seen all of these result in fines, rejected loads, or environmental damage. Don't learn the hard way.
Don’t burn yard waste (in most places). Open burning is banned in many cities and during high fire-risk periods. Fines range from $100 to several thousand dollars. Check your state’s air quality board before lighting anything.
Don’t dump it in the woods. Even if it seems harmless, dumping yard waste on public or private property is illegal dumping. You can spread invasive plants and diseases. I’ve traced invasive species back to dumped yard waste more times than I can count.
Don’t bag leaves in plastic. If it goes to a composting facility, plastic bags contaminate the whole batch. Use paper bags or dump loose into your yard waste bin.
Don’t mix in treated wood. Pressure-treated lumber, painted wood, and stained wood are NOT yard waste. The chemicals don’t belong in compost. Take them to a transfer station as regular debris.
Don’t throw yard waste in regular trash. In many states, it’s banned from landfills. Even where it’s not banned, it’s a waste of landfill space when composting is an option.
State-Specific Notes
California
California has strict rules about yard waste. It’s banned from landfills in most areas under SB 1383. The upside: most cities have excellent composting programs and accept yard waste curbside for free. Check CalRecycle for your local requirements.
Texas
Rules vary wildly by city. Texas doesn’t have statewide yard waste bans, so some areas are more flexible than others. Houston and Austin have robust curbside programs. Rural areas often allow burning with permits. Check TCEQ for regulations in your area.
Florida
Florida yard waste rules are set at the county level. Most urban areas have weekly pickup during growing season. The wet climate means grass grows fast—consider mulching mowers to reduce clipping volume. Check the Florida DEP for your county’s program.
New York
New York banned yard waste from landfills statewide. Curbside pickup or composting are your main options. Many towns offer free mulch from collected yard waste—check your municipal website.
Georgia
My home state. Most metro Georgia counties (Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb) offer curbside yard waste pickup. Pickup schedules vary—some are weekly during growing season, others are monthly year-round. Check Georgia facilities for locations.
Seasonal Timing
Spring (March-May): Busiest time. Expect longer lines at transfer stations and curbside delays. Get your spring cleanup done early, before everyone else remembers they have yards.
Summer (June-August): Grass clipping season. Regular weekly pickup usually handles it. Consider a mulching mower blade to reduce volume.
Fall (September-November): Leaf collection ramps up. Many cities add extra pickup days. This is prime composting material—save those leaves.
Winter (December-February): Most yard waste programs pause or reduce frequency. Limited debris to deal with anyway.
Disposal Checklist
- Check your city's yard waste schedule and rules
- Use paper bags or designated bins (never plastic)
- Cut branches to size limits (usually 4 ft long, 4" diameter)
- Bundle branches with natural twine
- Keep dirt, rocks, and treated wood out of yard waste
- Consider composting leaves and grass clippings
Clearing Out More Than Yard Waste?
Spring cleanup often involves more than just branches and leaves. You might also be dealing with:
- Old appliances (that broken mower, the rusty grill)
- Paint cans from last year’s project
- Old mattresses from the garage
- Tires from the shed
The Bottom Line
- For regular maintenance: Use curbside pickup. It’s free and easy.
- For spring cleanup or big projects: Make a transfer station run. Saves time.
- For ongoing waste reduction: Start composting. Free and good for your garden.
- For large branches: Rent a chipper or wait for a community chipping event.
Use our state directory or interactive map to find disposal facilities near you.
Keep a small tarp in your trunk. When you load yard waste into a car or truck, debris ends up everywhere. A tarp makes cleanup much easier and keeps your vehicle from smelling like a compost pile for the next week.
