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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Nashville, verified October 2026.
Checked against Nashville Waste Services
0
regular curbside bulky pickups; Metro sends bulky items to the Convenience Centers
1 free
bulk item per Convenience Center visit, plus 3 bags of trash
615-880-3897
Davidson County Sheriff's Office limited curbside bulk removal
Every route for yard waste in Nashville, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Nashville guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Nashville, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Nashville bulky item disposal: yard waste
Free, with a step firstYard waste is banned from trash carts. Metro offers a subscription yard waste cart and the Convenience Centers accept brush and leaves.
Who qualifies: Metro Waste Services does not run curbside bulky pickup. Residents of Davidson County use the Convenience Centers, and the Davidson County Sheriff's Office offers a limited curbside bulk item removal by inmate crews at 615-880-3897 when available.
How to schedule: Take items to a Convenience Center: one bulk item plus 3 bags of trash per visit is free (mattresses, tires with rims, and construction debris excluded from the free item). Or call the Sheriff's Office at 615-880-3897 to ask about a curbside removal; items must be at the main street, not on apartment property, and never from an eviction.
Limits: One free bulk item per Convenience Center visit; fees for additional items. Four tires without rims per month free at East and Ezell. Electronics under 100 pounds free at East, Ezell, and Omohundro.
Set-out: Do not set bulky items at the curb for the regular trash route; items outside carts are not collected and can be reported as illegal dumping. Only put items out for a confirmed Sheriff's Office removal.
Nashville Convenience Centers: yard waste
Free for residentsBrush and leaves accepted.
Where: East, Ezell Pike, Omohundro, and Anderson Lane; hours at nashville.gov
How it works: Davidson County residents in non-commercial vehicles. One bulk item plus 3 bags free per visit; scrap metal including refrigerators and washers free; electronics free at East, Ezell, and Omohundro; tires without rims free (4 a month) at East and Ezell, $5 each with rims. Mattresses and construction debris carry fees.
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 Nashville: 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 Nashville: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Nashville’s waste collection changed materially on February 2, 2026, new routes and new holiday rules across Davidson County. Curbside bulk pickup is provided 4 times per year by request, with a 1 cubic yard limit. Combined with four free Convenience Centers (the right path for most bulk disposal), Nashville residents have several legitimate options. This page walks through every one.
The Nashville rule for yard waste: Yard waste is banned from trash carts. Metro offers a subscription yard waste cart and the Convenience Centers accept brush and leaves.
Program basics: One free bulk item per Convenience Center visit; fees for additional items. Four tires without rims per month free at East and Ezell. Electronics under 100 pounds free at East, Ezell, and Omohundro. Do not set bulky items at the curb for the regular trash route; items outside carts are not collected and can be reported as illegal dumping. Only put items out for a confirmed Sheriff's Office removal.
What the city will not take: Everything from regular curbside trash: bulky items, yard waste, cardboard, and electronics are banned from the cart by Metro code.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Nashville Department of Waste Services: Convenience Center Services and fees, Nashville Waste Services: Bulky Item Collection (accepted items), hubNashville: curbside bulk item pickup (Davidson County Sheriff's Office program). 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-week service or live in the General Services District / multi-family complexes (excluded from city bulk service), LoadUp offers professional removal in Nashville 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 Nashville with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Nashville proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Nashville 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 Nashville: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Nashville pick up yard waste for free?
Convenience Center, or Metro’s yard waste cart subscription.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Nashville?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Nashville starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-week service or live in the General Services District / multi-family complexes (excluded from city bulk service), LoadUp offers professional removal in Nashville 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 Nashville page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Nashville guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.