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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in San Diego, CA
Big loads go to the Miramar Greenery.
Checked against San Diego ESD
Home › By item › Yard waste › San Diego
A public resource guide
Big loads go to the Miramar Greenery.
Checked against San Diego ESD
0
free curbside bulky pickups; the city program was paused in June 2026
$0
mattress and box spring drop-off at Miramar, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free
household hazardous waste drop-off at Miramar, by appointment, city residents
Reduced greenery rate
Miramar Landfill and Recycling Center, reduced greenery rate
Every route for yard waste in San Diego, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full San Diego guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in San Diego, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
City of San Diego curbside bulky item pickup: yard waste
FreeYard waste is the exception: city collection customers put leaves, clippings, and small branches in the green organics bin every week under California's SB 1383 rules. Larger loads of clean yard waste go to the Miramar Greenery for a lower fee than mixed trash.
Who qualifies: Nobody right now. The City of San Diego does not provide curbside bulky item pickup. A citywide on-demand program was planned and then paused by the City Council in June 2026 to hold down the new solid waste fees.
How to schedule: There is nothing to schedule. Options are periodic Community Cleanup events organized by council districts, self-hauling to the Miramar Landfill on Convoy Street (flat-rate fees by vehicle and load), free mattress drop-off at Miramar, and the free household hazardous waste facility by appointment.
Limits: Not applicable for curbside. Miramar charges standard disposal fees for mixed loads; mattresses and household hazardous waste are free under their own programs.
Set-out: Do not set bulky items at the curb in San Diego. With no pickup program, an unscheduled pile is illegal dumping and is reported through Get It Done.
Miramar Landfill and Recycling Center: yard waste
Reduced greenery rateClean yard waste is accepted at the Miramar Greenery.
Where: 5180 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
How it works: Self-haul for City of San Diego residents and others. Flat-rate disposal fees by vehicle type and load; see the current fee schedule before you go. Accepts furniture, appliances, construction debris, yard waste, and appliances with refrigerant under its rules.
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 San Diego: 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 San Diego: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
San Diego is unusual among major U.S. cities: the City does not provide on-demand bulky item pickup for single-family homes. Residents either self-haul to Miramar Landfill, use a private hauler, or work with their HOA on a Community Cleanup. The system also went through its biggest overhaul in 106 years on July 1, 2025, when the new Solid Waste Management Fee took effect, San Diego is no longer a free trash service. This page walks through every legitimate option.
The San Diego rule for yard waste: Yard waste is the exception: city collection customers put leaves, clippings, and small branches in the green organics bin every week under California's SB 1383 rules. Larger loads of clean yard waste go to the Miramar Greenery for a lower fee than mixed trash.
Program basics: Not applicable for curbside. Miramar charges standard disposal fees for mixed loads; mattresses and household hazardous waste are free under their own programs. Do not set bulky items at the curb in San Diego. With no pickup program, an unscheduled pile is illegal dumping and is reported through Get It Done.
What the city will not take: All bulky items, since there is no curbside program. Electronics and hazardous waste are also banned from the trash cart under California law.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of San Diego Environmental Services: Recycling Mattresses and Box Springs (states the City does not provide bulky item pickup), City of San Diego: Miramar Landfill fee schedule and regulations, City of San Diego: Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility. 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+Because San Diego doesn’t offer city bulky pickup, paid removal is the standard option for most residents who can’t self-haul. LoadUp offers professional removal in San Diego 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 San Diego with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside San Diego proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete San Diego 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 San Diego: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does San Diego pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, weekly in the green organics bin for city collection customers. Big loads go to the Miramar Greenery.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in San Diego?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in San Diego starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. Because San Diego doesn’t offer city bulky pickup, paid removal is the standard option for most residents who can’t self-haul. LoadUp offers professional removal in San Diego 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 San Diego page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full San Diego guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.