Home › By item › Yard waste › Charlotte
A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Charlotte, NC
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Charlotte, verified October 2026.
Checked against Charlotte Solid Waste
Home › By item › Yard waste › Charlotte
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Charlotte, verified October 2026.
Checked against Charlotte Solid Waste
Free
scheduled bulky pickup through 311, CLT+, or online, no published yearly limit
6 a.m.
deadline on your scheduled day, set out no sooner than the day before
8
passenger tires per pickup, rims removed
Every route for yard waste in Charlotte, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Charlotte guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Charlotte, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Charlotte scheduled bulky waste collection: yard waste
FreeYard waste is collected weekly in paper bags or reusable containers under 75 pounds, with limbs bundled; it is not bulky waste. Large limbs can be scheduled separately.
Who qualifies: Any address that gets garbage collection from the City of Charlotte, including apartment and condo communities, which schedule the same way and set items by the dumpster.
How to schedule: Schedule through 311 (704-336-7600), the CLT+ app, or online at servicerequest.charlottenc.gov. Free, and the city does not publish a yearly limit. Cancel or change by noon the business day before.
Limits: No published volume limit. Items must be listed on the request. Multifamily communities with more than 5 appliances need extra planning through the city's multifamily administrator.
Set-out: At the curb by 6 a.m. on your scheduled day and no sooner than the day before, with 3 feet between items. Appliances must be empty with the door removed and an X of tape across the opening.
Mecklenburg County full-service recycling centers: yard waste
FreeYard waste accepted.
Where: North Mecklenburg, Compost Central, Hickory Grove, and Foxhole
How it works: Open to all Mecklenburg County residents. Bulk furniture, appliances, electronics (limit 2 TVs or monitors), household hazardous waste, and tires (up to 5 free, fee if on rims). A vehicle sticker sets the fee level.
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 Charlotte: 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 Charlotte: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Charlotte’s bulk pickup runs on appointment-based scheduling through the CLT+ portal or 311. Combined with four free full-service Mecklenburg County drop-off centers and weekly garbage and yard waste, Charlotte has solid free disposal options. This page walks through every one in order from free to paid, including the strict 75-pound item weight limit and the unique 2-week recycling cycle.
The Charlotte rule for yard waste: Yard waste is collected weekly in paper bags or reusable containers under 75 pounds, with limbs bundled; it is not bulky waste. Large limbs can be scheduled separately.
Program basics: No published volume limit. Items must be listed on the request. Multifamily communities with more than 5 appliances need extra planning through the city's multifamily administrator. At the curb by 6 a.m. on your scheduled day and no sooner than the day before, with 3 feet between items. Appliances must be empty with the door removed and an X of tape across the opening.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste (batteries, bulbs, paint, propane) and tires still on rims. Mecklenburg County's four full-service recycling centers handle those.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services: Collection Guidelines (bulky waste), City of Charlotte: Multi-family Services (bulky collection for apartments). 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 need same-week service, have items the city won’t accept (over 75 lbs, certain construction debris), or live in unincorporated Mecklenburg County, LoadUp offers professional removal in Charlotte 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 Charlotte with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Charlotte proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Charlotte 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 Charlotte: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Charlotte pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, weekly in paper bags or containers under 75 pounds, separate from bulky.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Charlotte?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Charlotte starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-week service, have items the city won’t accept (over 75 lbs, certain construction debris), or live in unincorporated Mecklenburg County, LoadUp offers professional removal in Charlotte 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 Charlotte page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Charlotte guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.