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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Long Beach, CA
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Long Beach, verified October 2026.
Checked against Long Beach Recycles
Home › By item › Yard waste › Long Beach
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Long Beach, verified October 2026.
Checked against Long Beach Recycles
12
free Special Collections per account per calendar year
8
large items (or 25 bags and bundles) per collection, out by 6 a.m.
5
tires up to 16 inches per pickup, kept separate
Every route for yard waste in Long Beach, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Long Beach guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Long Beach, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Long Beach Special Collection: yard waste
FreeYard trimmings go in the green cart weekly, and tree branches in 4-foot, 40-pound tied bundles are accepted on a Special Collection.
Who qualifies: Every City-serviced refuse account in Long Beach. Buildings served by private haulers arrange bulky pickups with their hauler.
How to schedule: Request online at lbcity.info/specialcollection or call 562-570-2876. Each account gets 12 free Special Collections per calendar year, each up to 8 large items or 25 bags, bundles, or boxes, and you can use two on the same day. A regulatory fee may apply to items needing special handling (appliances, TVs, monitors, tires).
Limits: 12 collections a year, 8 large items each. Items no larger than 72 by 48 inches unless you flag an oversized piece like a sofa when scheduling. Bundles under 48 inches and 40 pounds; bags under 25 pounds.
Set-out: At your regular collection location by 6 a.m. on your confirmed day, never before. Appliances, TVs, monitors, and tires are collected by a separate truck and must be kept apart from other items. Wrap all large glass. Nothing stacked on mattresses. Crews cannot enter private property.
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 Long Beach: 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 Long Beach: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Long Beach, California provides one of the more generous bulk waste programs in the country: each City-serviced residential refuse account receives 12 free Special Collections per year. The Energy and Environmental Services Department serves approximately 130,000 residential and 118,000 total accounts. California SB 1383 mandates the three-cart system: gray trash, blue recycling (collected by Waste Management under contract), and green organics for food scraps and yard trimmings. Long Beach is rolling out new blue recycling carts February through October 2026. Crews cannot enter private property due to insurance liabilities. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Long Beach residents.
The Long Beach rule for yard waste: Yard trimmings go in the green cart weekly, and tree branches in 4-foot, 40-pound tied bundles are accepted on a Special Collection.
Program basics: 12 collections a year, 8 large items each. Items no larger than 72 by 48 inches unless you flag an oversized piece like a sofa when scheduling. Bundles under 48 inches and 40 pounds; bags under 25 pounds. At your regular collection location by 6 a.m. on your confirmed day, never before. Appliances, TVs, monitors, and tires are collected by a separate truck and must be kept apart from other items. Wrap all large glass. Nothing stacked on mattresses. Crews cannot enter private property.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste (city HHW events), construction debris beyond small amounts, and unwrapped glass.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Long Beach Recycles: Special Collection 101. 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 Long Beach households needing in-home loading (city crews can’t enter property), items beyond city size and weight limits, or service when you’ve used your annual 12 Special Collections, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Long Beach 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 Long Beach with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Long Beach proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Long Beach 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 Long Beach: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Long Beach pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, in the green cart weekly, or in 4-foot bundles on a Special Collection.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Long Beach?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Long Beach starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Long Beach households needing in-home loading (city crews can’t enter property), items beyond city size and weight limits, or service when you’ve used your annual 12 Special Collections, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Long Beach 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 Long Beach page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Long Beach guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.