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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Chula Vista, CA
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Chula Vista, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Chula Vista
Home › By item › Yard waste › Chula Vista
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Chula Vista, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Chula Vista
10 a week
free bulky items (60 per 90 days) with 24 hours' notice to Republic Services
619-421-9400
to schedule, at least 24 hours before your service day
2 + 2
free landfill and yard waste passes a year for the Otay Landfill
Every route for yard waste in Chula Vista, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Chula Vista guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Chula Vista, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Chula Vista free bulky item collection (Republic Services): yard waste
FreeYard trimmings go in the green cart weekly, and cart customers get 2 free yard waste passes a year for the Otay Landfill.
Who qualifies: Homes and businesses with Republic Services cart service in Chula Vista. Apartment and condo residents go through their manager or HOA, who schedule free collection the same way.
How to schedule: Call Republic Services at 619-421-9400 or request online at least 24 hours before your service day. Up to 10 bulky items per week, or 60 items in any 90-day period, free. Extra items cost a small fee.
Limits: 10 items a week, 60 per 90 days. Cart customers in good standing also get 2 free landfill passes and 2 yard waste passes a year for the Otay Landfill.
Set-out: At the curb the night before your scheduled service day, clear of carts and cars.
Otay Landfill: yard waste
Free with a yard waste pass2 a year.
Where: 1700 Maxwell Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91911
How it works: Republic Services landfill. Cart customers get 2 free landfill passes and 2 yard waste passes a year, mailed on request from 619-482-4024 or picked up at 891 Energy Way. Otherwise posted rates.
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 Chula Vista: 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 Chula Vista: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Chula Vista, California (#81 nationally) is San Diego County’s second-largest city and is served by Republic Services under exclusive city franchise. Chula Vista has the most generous bulky pickup allowance of any California city in our coverage: up to 10 bulky items per weekly pickup, OR 60 items in any 90-day period, free of charge. Schedule at least 24 hours before your service day. Residents also get 2 free Otay Landfill passes and 2 free yard waste passes per year (1 ton max per pass). Mandatory recycling under Chula Vista Municipal Code 8.25.050 and California AB 341. Collection hours run 7 AM-6 PM with carts at curb by 7 AM. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Chula Vista residents.
The Chula Vista rule for yard waste: Yard trimmings go in the green cart weekly, and cart customers get 2 free yard waste passes a year for the Otay Landfill.
Program basics: 10 items a week, 60 per 90 days. Cart customers in good standing also get 2 free landfill passes and 2 yard waste passes a year for the Otay Landfill. At the curb the night before your scheduled service day, clear of carts and cars.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste (county HHW facilities) and construction debris.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Chula Vista Environmental Services: Bulky Item and Landfill Passes. 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 Chula Vista households needing in-home pickup (Republic puts items at curb), immediate service that can’t wait 24+ hours, items over 60 pounds (Republic charges extra), or massive cleanouts beyond the 60-per-90-days cap, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in South Bay San Diego for upfront-priced pickup.
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 Chula Vista with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Chula Vista proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Chula Vista 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 Chula Vista: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Chula Vista pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, in the green cart weekly, or with a yard waste pass at Otay.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Chula Vista?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Chula Vista starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Chula Vista households needing in-home pickup (Republic puts items at curb), immediate service that can’t wait 24+ hours, items over 60 pounds (Republic charges extra), or massive cleanouts beyond the 60-per-90-days cap, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in South Bay San Diego for upfront-priced pickup.
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 Chula Vista page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Chula Vista guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.