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A public resource guide

Free yard waste removal in Plano, TX

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

Apartment courtyard with shared outdoor space Checked against City of Plano

Monthly

bulky waste collection day assigned by address

6x4x4 ft

maximum pile before Special Paid Collection charges apply

$10

per cubic yard, $20 minimum, for a Special Paid Collection

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

Free yard waste removal in Plano

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

Plano monthly bulky waste collection: yard waste

Free

Yard trimmings are collected weekly on your yard trimmings day in paper bags or bundles, separate from monthly bulky waste.

Who qualifies: Single-family homes with City of Plano Environmental Waste Services.

How to schedule: No appointment. Each address has one bulky waste collection day a month; look it up on the city's collection schedule map. Anything beyond the standard pile is a Special Paid Collection at $10 per cubic yard with a $20 minimum, requested through the city.

Limits: Piles no larger than 6 by 4 by 4 feet. Larger piles are billed as special collections.

Set-out: At the curb in manageable piles by 7 a.m. on your bulky day, not blocking the sidewalk or storm drains, and not more than 24 hours early.

Read the full Plano 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 Plano: 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 Plano: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.

For partners ›

How Plano handles yard waste

Plano, Texas operates a system that’s unusual among large Texas cities: no curbside yard waste collection at all. The Environmental Waste Services (EWS) division provides weekly trash collection in 68- or 95-gallon carts and bi-weekly recycling in green carts under the “Big 3” program. Bulky waste pickup is monthly by zone, with appointments required at least 2 working days in advance via (972) 941-7141. Cooling appliances (refrigerators, freezers, AC units, water coolers) carry a $25 special-handling fee. Yard waste must be self-hauled to NTMWD transfer stations, where Plano residents get 2 free drops per month. The Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center handles HHW. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Plano residents.

The Plano rule for yard waste: Yard trimmings are collected weekly on your yard trimmings day in paper bags or bundles, separate from monthly bulky waste.

Program basics: Piles no larger than 6 by 4 by 4 feet. Larger piles are billed as special collections. At the curb in manageable piles by 7 a.m. on your bulky day, not blocking the sidewalk or storm drains, and not more than 24 hours early.

What the city will not take: Concrete, rock, dirt, sod, roofing, contractor waste, structures, cylinders, hazardous material, glass and mirrors, railroad ties, vehicle parts, and tires. Refrigerant appliances need the refrigerant professionally removed and tagged first.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Plano: Bulky Waste Collection, City of Plano: Residential Collection Schedules. 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 Plano

  • 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 Plano households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (brush, construction debris), or removal between monthly bulky cycles, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Plano 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 Plano 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 Plano proper, start with the guide for your own city:

See the Arlington guide.
Weekly green cart composting (commercial-temp facility accepts all food scraps including meat and bones).
Twice-annual brush/bulky pickup. Bundle, under 4 ft long, stack same direction.
Monthly bulk pickup (must be in paper bags, plastic bags rejected during brush-only months). Up to 10 cu yds counts toward monthly limit.
See the El Paso guide.
Weekly curbside on regular trash day. Drop-Off Station for excess.

Related guides: the complete Plano 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 Plano: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.

Common questions about yard waste removal in Plano

Does Plano pick up yard waste for free?

Yes, weekly on your yard trimmings day, separate from bulky.

How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Plano?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Plano starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Plano households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (brush, construction debris), or removal between monthly bulky cycles, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Plano 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 Plano page maintained?

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

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 Plano 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.