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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Akron, OH
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Akron, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Akron
Home › By item › Yard waste › Akron
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Akron, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Akron
Weekly
large item pickup on your normal collection day, no call needed
4:30 p.m.
earliest set-out the evening before
3
Special Bulk Pickups a year (20 cubic yards) for big volumes, scheduled through 311
Every route for yard waste in Akron, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Akron guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Akron, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Akron weekly large item pickup: yard waste
FreeYard waste goes in the trash cart or bundled next to it on your collection day; Akron also has seasonal leaf collection.
Who qualifies: Akron residential sanitation customers with city carts.
How to schedule: No appointment. Put furniture, mattresses, appliances, and up to 4 tires a year next to your carts on your normal collection day. Only a large volume of bags and boxes needs a Special Bulk Pickup, scheduled through 311 (330-375-2311), with 3 allowed per calendar year up to 20 cubic yards each.
Limits: Weekly large items with no published count; 4 tires per year. Special Bulk Pickups: 3 a year, 20 cubic yards each.
Set-out: Next to your carts, 3 feet from carts and obstacles, no earlier than 4:30 p.m. the evening before your collection day; earlier set-outs can be fined.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Akron: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering yard waste, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Akron: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Akron, Ohio runs two complementary free bulk waste pathways. Every week, large items including refrigerators and other appliances placed curbside next to trash and recycling carts are collected on your regular collection day with no appointment and no fee. The city takes appliances to a local salvage company for proper recycling. For volumes that exceed routine bulk, basement cleanouts, post-move debris, garage purges, Akron offers 3 Special Bulk Volume Pickups per household per year, scheduled in advance through 311. The system has a few quirks worth knowing: glass is not accepted in curbside recycling (purple drop-off bins handle that), and Summit County Reworks runs the HHW and electronics drop-off network for the broader county. The Recycle Right campaign with Keep Akron Beautiful has driven contamination from 39.3% in 2019 to 12.5%.
The Akron rule for yard waste: Yard waste goes in the trash cart or bundled next to it on your collection day; Akron also has seasonal leaf collection.
Program basics: Weekly large items with no published count; 4 tires per year. Special Bulk Pickups: 3 a year, 20 cubic yards each. Next to your carts, 3 feet from carts and obstacles, no earlier than 4:30 p.m. the evening before your collection day; earlier set-outs can be fined.
What the city will not take: Construction and demolition materials, roofing, plaster, dirt, sand, gravel, bricks, drywall, concrete, hazardous waste, paint, motor oil, auto parts, and chemicals.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Akron Public Works: 2026 trash collection schedule and large item rules, City of Akron: Trash and bulk collection guidelines. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why yard waste are different from ordinary bulk. Bundling rules are where most yard waste gets skipped. Branches typically must be under 4 feet long and 4 to 6 inches in diameter, tied in bundles under 40 to 50 pounds, and limited to a number of bundles per week. Leaves go in paper bags or carts, not plastic, in most programs because the material is composted. Plastic bags of leaves are the most common curbside rejection.
Three mistakes that get yard waste left at the curb:
Paid options cover stumps, large tree removals, and heavy loads of sod and soil.
Stump grinding
$100 to $400 per stumpGrinding a stump in place to below grade is cheaper and easier than removing it. The grindings can be left as mulch or bagged as yard waste where the program allows wood chips.
Mark utilities first. Call 811 before grinding near service lines.
LoadUp paid yard waste pickup
$80+For households not eligible for free programs, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Akron area. Upfront pricing, same-week scheduling, and licensed disposal handled for you.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your yard waste. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book yard waste pickup in Akron with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Akron proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Akron junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national yard waste disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Akron: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Akron pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, in the cart or bundled next to it.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Akron?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Akron starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households not eligible for free programs, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Akron area. Upfront pricing, same-week scheduling, and licensed disposal handled for you.
How do I put yard waste out for pickup?
Leaves and clippings in paper lawn bags or the green cart, not plastic. Branches cut to the length limit (usually 4 feet), under the diameter limit (usually 4 to 6 inches), tied in bundles under 40 to 50 pounds. Check your city’s weekly bundle limit and season in the directory below.
Why can’t I use plastic bags?
Because yard waste is composted or ground into mulch, and plastic contaminates the product. Most programs require paper bags or carts; a few accept plastic bags that crews empty and leave behind.
Which states ban yard waste from landfills?
More than 20 states ban some or all yard waste from landfills, including Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Delaware among others. That is why curbside programs are so common.
What do I do with a tree stump?
Grind it in place ($100 to $400), dig it out and take it to a transfer station as inert material, or list it free for someone who wants firewood or a planter. Most curbside programs exclude stumps and root balls.
Is this Akron page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Akron guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.