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A public resource guide

Free yard waste removal in Salt Lake City, UT

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

Apartment courtyard with shared outdoor space Checked against Salt Lake City

1 + 1

free Call 2 Haul pickups a year: one bulk waste, one green waste

8x4x4 ft

maximum pile, about a pickup-truck bed, mattresses set apart

If it plugs in

it qualifies: TVs, computers, and refrigerators are all accepted

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

Free yard waste removal in Salt Lake City

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

Salt Lake City Call 2 Haul: yard waste

Free

Weekly in the brown compost cart, plus one free Call 2 Haul green waste pickup a year for bulky branches and trimmings.

Who qualifies: Households with Salt Lake City residential curbside garbage service (you need your Public Utilities account number).

How to schedule: Schedule online at slc.gov/sustainability/call-2-haul or call 801-535-6999 (Monday to Friday, 8 to 5). Two scheduled pickups a year are included: one bulk waste pickup and one green waste pickup. Pickup lands on a scheduled day between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Limits: One bulk pickup and one green waste pickup per year. Pile about 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 4 feet high (a pickup-truck bed). Larger loads go to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill or a private hauler. Up to 4 automobile tires.

Set-out: At the curb on your scheduled date, 5 feet from hydrants, trees, poles, mailboxes, and walls, with 10 feet of open space on each side, mattresses set apart from the pile, breakables not stacked.

Read the full Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City: 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 Salt Lake City: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.

For partners ›

How Salt Lake City handles yard waste

Salt Lake City operates one of the more resident-friendly bulk waste programs in the Mountain West. The free Call 2 Haul program gives every residential garbage customer two free scheduled bulk waste pickups per year, year-round on demand, with no zone rotation or appointment windows. The city also operates a mandatory 4-cart recycling and compost system with weekly collection. This guide covers every legitimate disposal option for Salt Lake City residents, including the program-specific details that distinguish SLC from surrounding cities (Salt Lake County, West Valley City, Murray, and Millcreek all have separate waste programs).

The Salt Lake City rule for yard waste: Weekly in the brown compost cart, plus one free Call 2 Haul green waste pickup a year for bulky branches and trimmings.

Program basics: One bulk pickup and one green waste pickup per year. Pile about 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 4 feet high (a pickup-truck bed). Larger loads go to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill or a private hauler. Up to 4 automobile tires. At the curb on your scheduled date, 5 feet from hydrants, trees, poles, mailboxes, and walls, with 10 feet of open space on each side, mattresses set apart from the pile, breakables not stacked.

What the city will not take: Construction debris, household hazardous waste, large truck tires, and city-owned tree trimmings. Call 2 Haul is not a pile program for unlimited waste.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Salt Lake City Sustainability: Call 2 Haul bulk waste collection, Salt Lake City: Bulk item collection (what Call 2 Haul accepts), Salt Lake City: Material set-out guidelines. 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 Salt Lake City

  • 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 Salt Lake City households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have already used their Call 2 Haul allotment, are clearing a full room or property, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Salt Lake City area.

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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City proper, start with the guide for your own city:

Green cart weekly March to November. Compost Yard year-round (Fri/Sat 7 AM-5 PM, proof of residency). Leaf bags in fall collection.
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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.

Common questions about yard waste removal in Salt Lake City

Does Salt Lake City pick up yard waste for free?

Yes, in the compost cart weekly, plus one green waste Call 2 Haul pickup a year.

How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Salt Lake City?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Salt Lake City starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Salt Lake City households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have already used their Call 2 Haul allotment, are clearing a full room or property, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Salt Lake City area.

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 Salt Lake City page maintained?

Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City

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 Salt Lake City 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.