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A public resource guide

Free yard waste removal in Lexington, KY

Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Lexington, verified October 2026.

Apartment courtyard with shared outdoor space Checked against LFUCG Waste Management

Free

bulky items including mattresses on your regular collection day, no call needed

5 days

typical turnaround for a free appliance pickup requested through LexCall

4

tires per week off the rims, by LexCall request

Every route for yard waste in Lexington, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Lexington guide covers every other item.

Free yard waste removal in Lexington

Here is how each route works in Lexington, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.

Lexington free bulky item and appliance pickup: yard waste

Free

Yard waste goes in the gray cart or paper bags with branches bundled, collected on your yard waste day. Haley Pike takes extra brush.

Who qualifies: Households with city (LFUCG) waste collection service.

How to schedule: Most bulky items, including mattresses and furniture, go out at the curb on your regular collection day with no call needed. Appliances and tires need a service request through LexCall (311 or 859-425-2255, online, or the app); appliance pickups usually come within 5 business days, free.

Limits: Up to 4 car or small truck tires per week, off the rims. No published cap on ordinary bulky items.

Set-out: At the curb next to your carts by 5 a.m. on collection day, no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before. Mattresses flat beside the carts.

Read the full Lexington city services guide ›

Haley Pike Convenience Center and free trash disposal days: yard waste

Free for residents

Yard waste accepted.

Where: 4216 Hedger Ln, Lexington, KY 40516

How it works: Fayette County residents can use Haley Pike for yard waste and recycling drop-off, and the city holds free trash disposal days there several times a year: one pickup load of household waste, mattresses, and up to 4 tires free; appliances and electronics charged.

Free trash disposal day dates ›

Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)

Free

Freemoval 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 Lexington: 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 Lexington: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.

For partners ›

How Lexington handles yard waste

Lexington, Kentucky (#59 nationally) operates one of the more comprehensive municipal waste programs among mid-sized U.S. cities. Bulky item pickup is included in city services as a free benefit, scheduled by calling LexCall at 311 or (859) 425-2255, with pickups normally completed within 5 business days. Households receive three roll-out carts at no additional charge: green for trash, blue for recycling, and gray for yard waste. The City offers quarterly free trash disposal days at the Bluegrass Regional Transfer Station (1505 Old Frankfort Pike), where Fayette County residents can drop off up to one pickup truckload of household waste including bulky items, mattresses, furniture, and up to 4 tires off the rim. The City also operates a dedicated Electronics Recycling Center at 1306 Versailles Road. This guide covers every disposal option for Lexington-Fayette County residents.

The Lexington rule for yard waste: Yard waste goes in the gray cart or paper bags with branches bundled, collected on your yard waste day. Haley Pike takes extra brush.

Program basics: Up to 4 car or small truck tires per week, off the rims. No published cap on ordinary bulky items. At the curb next to your carts by 5 a.m. on collection day, no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before. Mattresses flat beside the carts.

What the city will not take: Electronics (TVs, microwaves, computers, printers), humidifiers and dehumidifiers, appliances containing oil, and household hazardous waste. The Electronics Recycling Center takes e-waste free.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government: Bulky items, LFUCG: Appliances (free curbside appliance pickup), LFUCG: Free trash disposal day. 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.

Prep checklist before pickup day in Lexington

  • Rake leaves and clippings into paper lawn bags or the green cart.
  • Cut branches to your city’s length limit and tie bundles under 40 to 50 pounds.
  • Separate dirt, rocks, sod, and stumps; they go to a transfer station or a free listing, not the curb.
  • Bag diseased plants and invasive weeds as your program directs.
  • Set out on your yard waste day within the weekly bag and bundle limit.

Three mistakes that get yard waste left at the curb:

  • Don't bag leaves in plastic where the program requires paper or carts. It is the most common reason yard waste is skipped.
  • Don't put branches out unbundled or over the length limit. Cut to 4 feet, tie, and keep bundles liftable.
  • Don't mix dirt, rocks, or sod into yard waste. They damage grinders and get the whole pile rejected.

Paid options cover stumps, large tree removals, and heavy loads of sod and soil.

Stump grinding

$100 to $400 per stump

Grinding 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 Lexington households needing same-day or in-home pickup, items LexCall doesn’t schedule fast enough, large cleanouts beyond one truckload, or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Lexington 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 Lexington with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.

Yard waste rules in nearby cities

Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Lexington proper, start with the guide for your own city:

Free weekly seasonal curbside (March-December). Paper bags or 20-40 gal containers with handles, under 60 lbs each. NO plastic bags.
See the Akron guide.
No curbside organics in Albuquerque. Goes in black trash cart, OR drop at a Convenience Center.
See the Allentown guide.
Green cart weekly under SB 1383 (food scraps including meat and dairy required). NOT in trash cart.
SWS organics cart subscription (call 907-343-6250). Anchorage Regional Landfill. Annual Christmas tree collection events.

Related guides: the complete Lexington 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 Lexington: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.

Common questions about yard waste removal in Lexington

Does Lexington pick up yard waste for free?

Yes, in the gray cart or paper bags on your yard waste day.

How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Lexington?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Lexington starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Lexington households needing same-day or in-home pickup, items LexCall doesn’t schedule fast enough, large cleanouts beyond one truckload, or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Lexington 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 Lexington page maintained?

Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Lexington guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.

Fund a free pickup in Lexington

Help cover someone else’s haul.

Most LoadUp customers fund Freemoval pickups by rounding up at checkout. If you’re not booking a paid pickup yourself but want to help, you can contribute directly, pooled with other donations to fund subsidized pickups in Lexington at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer.

Choose a custom amount→

Freemoval is a social impact program of LoadUp Technologies, LLC. Contributions are not tax-deductible. 100% of contributions fund pickups at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer. No separate fundraising overhead is deducted from donations.