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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Baltimore, MD
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Baltimore, verified October 2026.
Checked against Baltimore City DPW
Home › By item › Yard waste › Baltimore
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Baltimore, verified October 2026.
Checked against Baltimore City DPW
3
bulk items per household per month, scheduled through 311
4 days
minimum notice before your district's bulk Saturday
7 a.m.
items out and marked 'bulk collection' on pickup Saturday
Every route for yard waste in Baltimore, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Baltimore guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Baltimore, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Baltimore City scheduled Saturday bulk trash: yard waste
FreeYard waste goes out with regular trash in bags or bundles, not as bulk. Drop-off centers take it too.
Who qualifies: Households with Baltimore City DPW trash collection. Baltimore County runs its own separate program; this page is for the city.
How to schedule: Call 311 (443-263-2220 from outside the city) or use 311 Online at least 4 working days before your district's scheduled bulk Saturday. Give your address, phone, and the 3 items. Large appliances (white goods) are scheduled the same way but tracked separately.
Limits: Up to 3 bulk items per household per month, collected on your district's monthly Saturday.
Set-out: Mark each item clearly 'bulk collection' and set it at your regular trash location by 7 a.m. on your pickup Saturday. Rear-collection homes leave items at the end of the yard with the gate unlocked.
Baltimore City Residential Drop-Off Centers: yard waste
Free with IDYard waste accepted.
Where: Five centers including Sisson Street (2840 Sisson St), Northwest, Eastern, Western, and Quarantine Road; hours at publicworks.baltimorecity.gov
How it works: Free for city residents with ID. Bulk items, electronics, scrap metal, tires, and recyclables. Household hazardous waste is accepted at Sisson Street on scheduled days.
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 Baltimore: 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 Baltimore: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Baltimore residents have one of the more flexible disposal systems in the country: scheduled monthly bulk pickup, plus five free Residential Drop-Off Centers open Monday through Saturday. This page walks through every option in order from free to paid, with the specific rules that apply in Baltimore City.
The Baltimore rule for yard waste: Yard waste goes out with regular trash in bags or bundles, not as bulk. Drop-off centers take it too.
Program basics: Up to 3 bulk items per household per month, collected on your district's monthly Saturday. Mark each item clearly 'bulk collection' and set it at your regular trash location by 7 a.m. on your pickup Saturday. Rear-collection homes leave items at the end of the yard with the gate unlocked.
What the city will not take: Building materials (sheetrock, siding, wood, roofing), auto parts, paint and stain, and flammable or hazardous waste. Electronics go to the city's Residential Drop-Off Centers.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Baltimore City DPW: Bulk Trash Pickup and Large Item Removal. 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 who can’t wait for the next monthly bulk Saturday or need items the city won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Baltimore with upfront pricing. 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 Baltimore with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Baltimore proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Baltimore 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 Baltimore: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Baltimore pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, with regular trash in bags or bundles.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Baltimore?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Baltimore starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who can’t wait for the next monthly bulk Saturday or need items the city won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Baltimore with upfront pricing. 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 Baltimore page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Baltimore guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.