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A public resource guide

Free yard waste removal in Omaha, NE

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

Apartment courtyard with shared outdoor space Checked against Omaha Wasteline

0

curbside bulky pickups; bulky items are banned from Omaha's carts

4

subsidized loads a year at River City Transfer, 6404 S. 60th St

Free

Spring and Fall Cleanup Saturdays with your neighborhood association

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

Free yard waste removal in Omaha

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

Omaha bulky item disposal: yard waste

Free

Yard waste is the exception: properly prepared yard waste goes in your green cart or paper bags with no limit during collection season. Small limbs under 4 inches are accepted at Cleanup events.

Who qualifies: Omaha has no curbside bulky collection: bulky items are prohibited from the weekly carts. City residents instead get subsidized drop-off at River City Transfer and free neighborhood Spring and Fall Cleanup events.

How to schedule: Haul bulky items to River City Transfer (6404 S. 60th St) and ask for the city's cost share: up to 4 subsidized loads per calendar year, tarped. Or bring items to your neighborhood's Spring or Fall Cleanup Saturday, which take furniture, mattresses, appliances at designated sites, and TVs free.

Limits: 4 subsidized River City loads per year; tires and yard waste are not subsidized. Appliances of any kind are no longer part of the bulky program at River City.

Set-out: Do not set bulky items at the curb. FCC Environmental will not collect anything outside the carts, and items left out are a code violation.

Read the full Omaha city services guide ›

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

For partners ›

How Omaha handles yard waste

Omaha, Nebraska provides municipal trash service to residential households through a 10-year contract with FCC Environmental Services, funded through general city taxes with no separate monthly bill to residents. However, Omaha does not have regular curbside bulk pickup. For large items, the city offers two free annual cleanup events (Spring and Fall) where residents self-haul to neighborhood drop-off sites. Glass also requires separate drop-off (not accepted in curbside recycling). This guide covers every disposal option for Omaha residents.

The Omaha rule for yard waste: Yard waste is the exception: properly prepared yard waste goes in your green cart or paper bags with no limit during collection season. Small limbs under 4 inches are accepted at Cleanup events.

Program basics: 4 subsidized River City loads per year; tires and yard waste are not subsidized. Appliances of any kind are no longer part of the bulky program at River City. Do not set bulky items at the curb. FCC Environmental will not collect anything outside the carts, and items left out are a code violation.

What the city will not take: From River City's subsidized program: appliances (Freon or not), tires, hazardous waste. From the carts: all bulky items, tires, and auto parts.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Wasteline (City of Omaha Public Works): Bulky Item Disposal, Wasteline: Fall Cleanup 2026, Wasteline: Tire Collection 2026. 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 Omaha

  • 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 Omaha households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need crew labor, or want faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Omaha 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 Omaha 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 Omaha proper, start with the guide for your own city:

REQUIRED separate (NE state law April 1-Nov 30). Paper bags only, NO plastic. Hauler service required during season.
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 Omaha 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 Omaha: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.

Common questions about yard waste removal in Omaha

Does Omaha pick up yard waste for free?

Yes, in the green cart or paper bags during the season.

How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Omaha?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Omaha starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Omaha households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need crew labor, or want faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Omaha 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 Omaha page maintained?

Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Omaha 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 Omaha

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 Omaha 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.