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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Columbus, OH
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Columbus, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Columbus
Home › By item › Yard waste › Columbus
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Columbus, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Columbus
311
or 614-645-3111: nothing is collected without a scheduled request
Free
for furniture, mattresses, carpet, and non-refrigerant appliances
2
free Waste and Reuse Convenience Centers (Alum Creek Dr and Georgesville Rd)
Every route for yard waste in Columbus, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Columbus guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Columbus, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
City of Columbus scheduled bulk collection: yard waste
FreeYard waste is collected every other week in paper bags or bundles on your yard waste week; look it up at 311.columbus.gov. Not through bulk.
Who qualifies: Homes that get City of Columbus refuse collection (the city cart). Larger apartment complexes use private haulers.
How to schedule: Nothing is collected without a request. Schedule online at 311.columbus.gov or call 311 (614-645-3111); you get a specific collection day. Waits of a week or two are common.
Limits: No published pile limit, but items must be listed on the request. Rolled carpet must be cut to about 4 feet and tied.
Set-out: On your scheduled day only. Curb-collected homes put items in front of the house; alley-collected homes put them at the alley line on the edge of the property, clear of obstructions. Never put bulk items in the cart.
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 Columbus: 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 Columbus: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Columbus runs a strict but well-organized system: bulk pickup is free, but you MUST schedule it first through 311. Items placed at the curb without a scheduled appointment will not be collected and may be tagged as a code violation. Columbus also rolled out weekly curbside recycling citywide in June 2023, a major upgrade from the old biweekly model, and yard waste runs biweekly on a Zone A or Zone B rotation. SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio) contracts with EEI for free household hazardous waste disposal for all Franklin County residents. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Columbus rule for yard waste: Yard waste is collected every other week in paper bags or bundles on your yard waste week; look it up at 311.columbus.gov. Not through bulk.
Program basics: No published pile limit, but items must be listed on the request. Rolled carpet must be cut to about 4 feet and tied. On your scheduled day only. Curb-collected homes put items in front of the house; alley-collected homes put them at the alley line on the edge of the property, clear of obstructions. Never put bulk items in the cart.
What the city will not take: Refrigerated appliances of any kind (refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, water coolers, heat pumps), auto parts and tires, electronics, hazardous materials, construction and building materials, and eviction or foreclosure set-outs.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Columbus Refuse Collection: Bulk Collection. 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-day service, have items the City won’t accept (Freon appliances, electronics, construction debris), can’t wait for a scheduled bulk appointment, or live in larger buildings without included bulk service, LoadUp offers professional removal in Columbus 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 Columbus with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Columbus proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Columbus 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 Columbus: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Columbus pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, every other week in paper bags or bundles, not through bulk.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Columbus?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Columbus starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-day service, have items the City won’t accept (Freon appliances, electronics, construction debris), can’t wait for a scheduled bulk appointment, or live in larger buildings without included bulk service, LoadUp offers professional removal in Columbus 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 Columbus page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Columbus guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.