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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Santa Ana, CA
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Santa Ana, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Santa Ana
Home › By item › Yard waste › Santa Ana
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Santa Ana, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Santa Ana
4 x 4
free pickups a year, up to 4 items each, through 657-467-6220
Yes
refrigerators, TVs, and computer monitors are on the accepted list
10 per unit
items per quarter for multifamily complexes of 3 or more units
Every route for yard waste in Santa Ana, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Santa Ana guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Santa Ana, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Santa Ana free bulky item pickup (Republic Services): yard waste
FreeYard trimmings go in the green organics cart weekly.
Who qualifies: Santa Ana residents with curbside trash collection. Multifamily complexes of 3 or more units get a combined 10 items per unit per quarter, scheduled through the property manager.
How to schedule: Call Republic Services at 657-467-6220. Each household gets 4 free bulky pickups a year, up to 4 items each.
Limits: 4 pickups a year, 4 items each. Multifamily: 10 items per unit per quarter at the property's designated spot.
Set-out: At the curb on your scheduled date. Multifamily residents use the location their property manager designates.
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 Santa Ana: 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 Santa Ana: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Santa Ana, California (#65 nationally) is the second-largest city in Orange County and is served by Republic Services under city franchise. Santa Ana’s bulky pickup is one of the more generous programs in OC: residents with curbside cart collection get 4 FREE bulky item pickups per year, with up to 4 items per pickup, OR up to 4 thirty-gallon bags of trash, OR up to 20 thirty-gallon bags of yard waste per pickup. Items collected within 5 working days of request. Multifamily complexes (3+ units) get 10 bulky items per unit per quarter. The Santa Ana Neighborhood Cleanup Program provides free 40-yard roll-off dumpsters for community cleanup events. Call Republic Services at (657) 467-6220 to schedule. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Santa Ana residents.
The Santa Ana rule for yard waste: Yard trimmings go in the green organics cart weekly.
Program basics: 4 pickups a year, 4 items each. Multifamily: 10 items per unit per quarter at the property's designated spot. At the curb on your scheduled date. Multifamily residents use the location their property manager designates.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste (OC HHW Collection Centers) and construction debris.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Santa Ana: Bulky item pickup is free and easy (Republic Services). 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 Santa Ana households needing in-home pickup, service faster than 5 working days, items beyond your 4 annual free bulky pickups, or large cleanouts, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in Orange County 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 Santa Ana with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Santa Ana proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Santa Ana pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, in the green cart weekly.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Santa Ana?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Santa Ana starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Santa Ana households needing in-home pickup, service faster than 5 working days, items beyond your 4 annual free bulky pickups, or large cleanouts, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in Orange County 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 Santa Ana page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Santa Ana guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.