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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in New Orleans, LA
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in New Orleans, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of New Orleans
Home › By item › Yard waste › New Orleans
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in New Orleans, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of New Orleans
311
Request Large Item Pickup; collected free on your regular collection day
24 hours
maximum time items can sit out before collection
4
tires per request at the curb
Every route for yard waste in New Orleans, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full New Orleans guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in New Orleans, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
New Orleans bulky waste pickup by 311 request: yard waste
FreeYard waste is collected with regular trash: bagged clippings and branches under 6 feet, neatly bundled, on your collection day.
Who qualifies: Residential addresses with city sanitation service (collected by Richard's Disposal, IV Waste, or Waste Pro depending on area). Small businesses are not eligible.
How to schedule: Submit a Request Large Item Pickup through 311 (nola311.org or dial 311). Collection comes on your regular solid waste day, free. White goods, sofas, mattresses, up to 4 tires, and e-waste are all requested the same way.
Limits: Up to 4 tires per request. No published volume cap for ordinary household bulky items.
Set-out: At the curb no more than 24 hours before your scheduled collection day (after 4 p.m. the evening before, out by 4 a.m. in early-collection areas). Setting bulky waste out earlier can be fined.
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 New Orleans: 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 New Orleans: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
New Orleans residents have free bulky waste pickup by request through 311, plus twice-weekly trash collection. The French Quarter and Downtown Development District get daily collection 365 days a year. This page walks through every option in order from free to paid, with the specific rules that apply across the city’s three sanitation contractors.
The New Orleans rule for yard waste: Yard waste is collected with regular trash: bagged clippings and branches under 6 feet, neatly bundled, on your collection day.
Program basics: Up to 4 tires per request. No published volume cap for ordinary household bulky items. At the curb no more than 24 hours before your scheduled collection day (after 4 p.m. the evening before, out by 4 a.m. in early-collection areas). Setting bulky waste out earlier can be fined.
What the city will not take: Construction debris, household hazardous waste (HHW Day at the Recycling Drop-Off Center), and anything from a business.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of New Orleans: Trash Collection (bulky waste), City of New Orleans: Recycling Drop-Off Center. 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, have items the city won’t take, or live in apartment buildings over 4 units, LoadUp offers professional removal in New Orleans 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 New Orleans with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside New Orleans proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete New Orleans 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 New Orleans: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does New Orleans pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, bagged or bundled under 6 feet, with regular collection.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in New Orleans?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in New Orleans 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, have items the city won’t take, or live in apartment buildings over 4 units, LoadUp offers professional removal in New Orleans 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 New Orleans page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full New Orleans guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.