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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Grand Rapids, MI
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Grand Rapids, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Grand Rapids
Home › By item › Yard waste › Grand Rapids
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Grand Rapids, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Grand Rapids
$40
City Bulk Sticker per bulky item or appliance, or pay online
6x5 ft
maximum item size for the truck
Free
Kent County SafeChem for household chemicals; yard waste drop-off at 2001 Butterworth SW with ID
Every route for yard waste in Grand Rapids, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Grand Rapids guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Grand Rapids, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Grand Rapids bulk sticker collection: yard waste
City pickup, $40 per itemYard waste uses tags too: a $6.50 tag per cart emptying, $2.75 city paper bags, or $2.75 green bulk tags for bundles under 4 feet. Drop-off at 2001 Butterworth SW is free with ID.
Who qualifies: Households with City of Grand Rapids refuse collection.
How to schedule: Grand Rapids charges per item: buy a $40 City Bulk Sticker (City Hall M level, select stores) and attach it, or pay online at payments.grandrapidsmi.gov with no sticker needed, then put the item at the curb by 7 a.m. the next business day. Items are collected within about a week; leave them out until taken.
Limits: $40 per bulky item or appliance. Maximum item size 6 by 5 feet. Refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed.
Set-out: At the curb by 7 a.m. the business day after purchase, sticker visible. Unstickered large items are left and the owner can be cited.
City yard waste drop-off: yard waste
Free with IDYard waste drop-off.
Where: 2001 Butterworth St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
How it works: Free yard waste drop-off for city residents with ID during posted hours.
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 Grand Rapids: 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 Grand Rapids: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Grand Rapids, Michigan has a distinctive waste system unlike most U.S. cities. Regular trash uses a pay-per-tip model (you pay only when the cart is emptied, not a flat monthly fee), and bulk item pickup uses a $40 sticker system per item rather than scheduled free pickups. The city also has a strong illegal dumping requirement for mattresses: plastic wrapping is mandatory before curbside placement. This guide covers every disposal option for Grand Rapids residents, including the subsidy programs available for low-income households.
The Grand Rapids rule for yard waste: Yard waste uses tags too: a $6.50 tag per cart emptying, $2.75 city paper bags, or $2.75 green bulk tags for bundles under 4 feet. Drop-off at 2001 Butterworth SW is free with ID.
Program basics: $40 per bulky item or appliance. Maximum item size 6 by 5 feet. Refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed. At the curb by 7 a.m. the business day after purchase, sticker visible. Unstickered large items are left and the owner can be cited.
What the city will not take: Electronics (banned from Michigan trash), tires, household hazardous waste, and construction debris.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Grand Rapids Public Works: Bulk Item Collection, City of Grand Rapids: Yard Waste Services. 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 Grand Rapids households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need more capacity than free options provide, or want full-service crew-based hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Grand Rapids proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Grand Rapids pick up yard waste for free?
Tagged cart, city bags, or bundles with a bulk tag; free drop-off at Butterworth.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Grand Rapids?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Grand Rapids starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Grand Rapids households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need more capacity than free options provide, or want full-service crew-based hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Grand Rapids guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.