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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Louisville, KY
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Louisville, verified October 2026.
Checked against Louisville Metro Public Works
Home › By item › Yard waste › Louisville
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Louisville, verified October 2026.
Checked against Louisville Metro Public Works
4
large items per Metro311 appointment, once a week, free
4 p.m.
set confirmed items out after this time the day before
Free
Waste Reduction Center: 4 large items, 4 tires, 3 electronics per resident per day
Every route for yard waste in Louisville, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Louisville guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Louisville, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Louisville Metro Large Item Pickup: yard waste
FreeYard waste is collected weekly (every other week mid-January to mid-March) in paper bags or bundles, not through Large Item Pickup. Stumps and unbundled waste are refused.
Who qualifies: Households in the Urban Services District with Metro waste collection. Suburban households with private haulers (Rumpke, Republic, WM, and others) arrange set-outs with their hauler, and everyone in Jefferson County can use the Waste Reduction Center.
How to schedule: Book a Large Item Pickup appointment through the Metro311 app or website for up to 4 items, once a week. Set confirmed items at your garbage spot after 4 p.m. the day before. Items out without an appointment are a reportable violation.
Limits: 4 large items per appointment, one appointment per week. The Waste Reduction Center takes up to 4 large items, 4 passenger tires, and 3 electronics per resident per day free.
Set-out: At your regular garbage collection location after 4 p.m. the day before your confirmed date. Items must come from the household where they are set out.
Louisville Waste Reduction Center: yard waste
Free for residentsYard waste accepted.
Where: 636 Meriwether Ave, Louisville, KY 40217 (entrance on Bland St)
How it works: Tuesday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jefferson County residents: up to 4 large household items, 4 passenger tires, 3 electronics, and Freon appliances free per day; one hot tub free. Construction debris and larger loads are charged.
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 Louisville: 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 Louisville: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Louisville Metro replaced its old “junk set-out weekend” system with an appointment-based Large Item Pickup program, up to 4 items per week, year-round, scheduled online or by phone. The change has kept Louisville’s streets dramatically cleaner. The system is generous, but eligibility is strict: only households inside the Urban Services District (the former city of Louisville boundary) qualify. Outside USD, residents contract directly with private haulers like Republic, WM, or Rumpke. Louisville also has the Haz Bin for free hazardous waste disposal and the Waste Reduction Center for up to 4 free Freon appliances per visit, one of the few cities offering this at no cost. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Louisville rule for yard waste: Yard waste is collected weekly (every other week mid-January to mid-March) in paper bags or bundles, not through Large Item Pickup. Stumps and unbundled waste are refused.
Program basics: 4 large items per appointment, one appointment per week. The Waste Reduction Center takes up to 4 large items, 4 passenger tires, and 3 electronics per resident per day free. At your regular garbage collection location after 4 p.m. the day before your confirmed date. Items must come from the household where they are set out.
What the city will not take: Appliances containing or that once contained Freon (free at the Waste Reduction Center, up to 4), electronics (Waste Reduction Center), yard waste (weekly collection), household hazardous waste (Haz Bin), construction debris, and items from other properties.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Louisville Metro Public Works: Junk and Bulk Trash Disposal (Large Item Pickup), Louisville Metro: Waste Reduction Center, Louisville Metro: Large Items. 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 outside Urban Services District (no city Large Item Pickup eligibility), exceeding 4 items per week during cleanouts, with construction debris (prohibited in city pickup), or needing same-day service, LoadUp offers professional removal in Louisville 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 Louisville with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Louisville proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Louisville 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 Louisville: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Louisville pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, weekly, bagged or bundled, not through Large Item Pickup.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Louisville?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Louisville starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households outside Urban Services District (no city Large Item Pickup eligibility), exceeding 4 items per week during cleanouts, with construction debris (prohibited in city pickup), or needing same-day service, LoadUp offers professional removal in Louisville 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 Louisville page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Louisville guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.