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A public resource guide

Free yard waste removal in Scottsdale, AZ

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

Apartment courtyard with shared outdoor space Checked against City of Scottsdale

Monthly

brush and bulk week by address, piles out by 5 a.m. Monday

10x6x4 ft

maximum pile, set out no more than 3 days early

2,000 lb

per week free at the Salt River Landfill with your utility bill and matching ID

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

Free yard waste removal in Scottsdale

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

Scottsdale monthly brush and bulk collection: yard waste

Free

Green waste is the brush half of the program: its own pile, 3 feet from the bulk pile, within the size limit, on the same monthly week, or free at the landfill.

Who qualifies: Residents who pay for City of Scottsdale residential collection.

How to schedule: No appointment. Each address has a monthly collection week (My Services tool or the 2026 schedule). Put piles out no sooner than 3 days before and no later than 5 a.m. on the Monday of that week; crews pass once during the week. Residential customers may also haul up to 2,000 pounds a week to the Salt River Landfill free with a utility bill and matching ID.

Limits: Pile no larger than 10 by 6 by 4 feet (about six carts in two rows). Separate green waste and bulk piles 3 feet apart.

Set-out: At the curb or your side of the alley on your property line, away from meters and electrical boxes, by 5 a.m. Monday of your week and no more than 3 days early. Crews do not return for late piles.

Read the full Scottsdale city services guide ›

Salt River Landfill (Resident Landfill Program): yard waste

Free within your weekly trip

Brush accepted.

Where: 13602 E. Beeline Hwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85256

How it works: Scottsdale residential solid waste customers can haul up to 2,000 pounds of trash, brush, or bulk once per calendar week free, with the top of a current city utility bill and a driver's license matching the service address. Freon appliances are charged unless you have a technician's receipt showing the refrigerant was removed. Over the limit: $60 per ton, $30 minimum.

Resident Landfill Program rules ›

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

For partners ›

How Scottsdale handles yard waste

Scottsdale, Arizona (#94 nationally) operates its own Solid Waste Services for approximately 84,000 single-family residential accounts across 184.4 square miles. Scottsdale’s distinctive feature is the Salt River Landfill program: residential customers may haul up to 2,000 pounds per week FREE with City utility bill and valid driver’s license matching service address. The city offers monthly brush and bulk collection once per month by neighborhood zone, free electronics recycling events quarterly, and free home HHW collection service (unusual). Scottsdale uses address-based routing, use the “My Services” tool at scottsdaleaz.gov/solid-waste to find your specific collection days. Some neighborhoods use 300-gallon shared alley containers. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Scottsdale residents.

The Scottsdale rule for yard waste: Green waste is the brush half of the program: its own pile, 3 feet from the bulk pile, within the size limit, on the same monthly week, or free at the landfill.

Program basics: Pile no larger than 10 by 6 by 4 feet (about six carts in two rows). Separate green waste and bulk piles 3 feet apart. At the curb or your side of the alley on your property line, away from meters and electrical boxes, by 5 a.m. Monday of your week and no more than 3 days early. Crews do not return for late piles.

What the city will not take: Appliances, electronics, household hazardous waste, tires, concrete and construction debris, and moving boxes are not accepted in brush and bulk. City facilities are not drop-off sites for them either.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Scottsdale Solid Waste: Brush and Bulk Collection, City of Scottsdale: Resident Landfill Program (Salt River Landfill), City of Scottsdale: 2026 Brush and Bulk Removal Schedule. 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 Scottsdale

  • 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 Scottsdale households needing in-home pickup, immediate disposal, multi-piece cleanouts, items requiring crew labor, or HOA-driven aesthetic concerns (DC Ranch, Gainey Ranch, Sincuidados), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders 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 Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale proper, start with the guide for your own city:

Bagged and tied in trash cart, OR Collection Center load (1 free use).
See the Gilbert guide.
Optional green barrel (additional monthly fee). Or Mesa bulk pickup for large loads. Material composted/mulched.
Bulk pickup accepts, cut to under 12 inches diameter, 4 feet length. Bag grass and leaves. Counts toward 10 cu yd limit.
Free Brush & Bulky, in separate pile, NOT mixed with bulk.

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

Common questions about yard waste removal in Scottsdale

Does Scottsdale pick up yard waste for free?

Yes, as a separate green waste pile on your monthly week.

How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Scottsdale?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Scottsdale starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Scottsdale households needing in-home pickup, immediate disposal, multi-piece cleanouts, items requiring crew labor, or HOA-driven aesthetic concerns (DC Ranch, Gainey Ranch, Sincuidados), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders 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 Scottsdale page maintained?

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

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 Scottsdale 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.