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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Colorado Springs, CO
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Colorado Springs, verified October 2026.
Checked against El Paso County
Home › By item › Yard waste › Colorado Springs
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Colorado Springs, verified October 2026.
Checked against El Paso County
0
city trash or bulky service; every home contracts a private hauler
Free
El Paso County HHW Facility, 3255 Akers Dr, by appointment, for chemicals and electronics
Clean Sweep
county events that have taken mattresses, large TVs, and tires free
Every route for yard waste in Colorado Springs, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Colorado Springs guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Colorado Springs, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Colorado Springs bulky item disposal: yard waste
Your hauler, for a feeMost haulers offer a yard waste subscription; Rocky Top Resources and the county's yard waste program take drop-offs for a small fee, and the city gives away free mulch.
Who qualifies: Colorado Springs has no city trash service. Every household contracts its own private hauler (Waste Connections, Republic, GFL, Apex, and others), and bulky pickups are arranged with that hauler for a fee.
How to schedule: Call your own hauler to schedule a bulky item pickup; fees and rules vary by company. Otherwise self-haul to a landfill or transfer station for a fee, or take hazardous waste, electronics, and sometimes mattresses and tires to the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility and its Clean Sweep events.
Limits: Set by your hauler. The county HHW facility is free for El Paso and Teller County residents by appointment, with per-item limits.
Set-out: Only on a date your hauler confirms. Items left at the curb otherwise are a city code issue.
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 Colorado Springs: 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 Colorado Springs: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Colorado Springs is one of the larger U.S. cities with no municipal trash collection at all. The city operates an open private hauler market: residents choose their own provider from licensed companies including Waste Connections, Apex Waste Solutions, Infinite Disposal, Republic Services, SOCO Waste, and others. Bulk pickup rules, fees, and options vary by hauler. This guide explains what that means practically, how to handle large items with each major provider, and every free or low-cost disposal alternative in the Colorado Springs metro.
The Colorado Springs rule for yard waste: Most haulers offer a yard waste subscription; Rocky Top Resources and the county's yard waste program take drop-offs for a small fee, and the city gives away free mulch.
Program basics: Set by your hauler. The county HHW facility is free for El Paso and Teller County residents by appointment, with per-item limits. Only on a date your hauler confirms. Items left at the curb otherwise are a city code issue.
What the city will not take: Nothing is collected free citywide. Electronics are banned from Colorado landfills and must go to the county facility or a recycler.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: El Paso County Environmental Division: Household Hazardous Waste Facility and recycling directory, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: household hazardous waste programs. 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 Colorado Springs households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need crew labor, or want faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Colorado Springs area 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 Colorado Springs with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Colorado Springs proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Colorado Springs pick up yard waste for free?
Hauler yard waste service, or a drop-off site for a small fee.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Colorado Springs?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Colorado Springs starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Colorado Springs households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need crew labor, or want faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Colorado Springs area 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 Colorado Springs page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Colorado Springs guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.