Home › By item › Yard waste › Atlanta
A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Atlanta, GA
More than 20 bags, or large limbs and stumps, must be scheduled through ATL311 as a bulk collection.
Checked against ATL311
Home › By item › Yard waste › Atlanta
A public resource guide
More than 20 bags, or large limbs and stumps, must be scheduled through ATL311 as a bulk collection.
Checked against ATL311
12
free scheduled bulk pickups per household each year
8 cu yd
maximum per pickup, about a small room of furniture
7 p.m.
earliest set-out, the night before your collection day
1 free
Freemoval pickup per referred household
Every route for yard waste in Atlanta, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Atlanta guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Atlanta, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
City of Atlanta scheduled bulk collection: yard waste
FreeYard trimmings have their own rules. Use paper yard bags (34 gallons or smaller, 35 pounds max) or a 32-gallon container marked YARD TRIMMINGS on all four sides. No plastic bags. Up to 20 bags per collection; 21 or more must be scheduled as a bulk collection. Branches up to 4 inches across and 4 feet long go with regular yard trimmings; limbs up to 6 inches across and stumps up to 4 feet can be scheduled as bulky yard trimmings, piled separately from household bulk.
Who qualifies: Single-family homes with City of Atlanta sanitation service. Apartment and condo residents are served by their building's private hauler.
How to schedule: Schedule through the Solid Waste Services Collection Tool on atlantaga.gov, by messaging @ATL311 on social media, or by calling 404-546-0311. Pickup happens on your regular weekly collection day.
Limits: 12 free scheduled collections per household per year, up to 8 cubic yards each (about a small room of furniture). A 13th collection costs $336.38.
Set-out: Items go at the curb in front of the property, clear of power lines, branches, mailboxes, and cars. Set out no earlier than 7 p.m. the night before pickup. An early set-out can draw a citation. Cancel by 3 p.m. the day before if plans change.
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.
Where: Launched in metro Atlanta in 2026 and onboarding its first partner organizations.
How to access: Ask a caseworker, housing counselor, or nonprofit you already work with to submit a request, or use the Get help page to be connected.
What’s covered: One free pickup per household. Yard waste, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service.
How it’s funded: LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates. The household pays nothing.
If you’re reading this, you probably need to get rid of something in Atlanta and you’re looking for the cheapest legitimate way to do it. This page covers every option, in order from free to paid, with what each one actually accepts and how to access it.
The Atlanta rule for yard waste: Yard trimmings have their own rules. Use paper yard bags (34 gallons or smaller, 35 pounds max) or a 32-gallon container marked YARD TRIMMINGS on all four sides. No plastic bags. Up to 20 bags per collection; 21 or more must be scheduled as a bulk collection. Branches up to 4 inches across and 4 feet long go with regular yard trimmings; limbs up to 6 inches across and stumps up to 4 feet can be scheduled as bulky yard trimmings, piled separately from household bulk.
Program basics: 12 free scheduled collections per household per year, up to 8 cubic yards each (about a small room of furniture). A 13th collection costs $336.38. Items go at the curb in front of the property, clear of power lines, branches, mailboxes, and cars. Set out no earlier than 7 p.m. the night before pickup. An early set-out can draw a citation. Cancel by 3 p.m. the day before if plans change.
What the city will not take: The city will not collect auto parts (including tires), building or construction materials, items from evictions or vacant properties, or anything left by a contractor.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: ATL311 Bulk Collection Request (KB0011524), updated September 2026, City of Atlanta Public Works: Yard Trimmings, Live Thrive CHaRM: Items We Accept and fees. 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 offers professional removal with upfront pricing and same-week scheduling. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Atlanta with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Atlanta proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Atlanta 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 Atlanta: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Atlanta pick up yard waste for free?
Yes. Up to 20 paper bags per collection on your yard trimmings week, with no plastic bags. More than 20 bags, or large limbs and stumps, must be scheduled through ATL311 as a bulk collection.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Atlanta?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Atlanta 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 offers professional removal with upfront pricing and same-week scheduling. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Atlanta page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Atlanta guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.