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A public resource guide
Free yard waste removal in Tampa, FL
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Tampa, verified October 2026.
Checked against Tampa Solid Waste
Home › By item › Yard waste › Tampa
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Tampa, verified October 2026.
Checked against Tampa Solid Waste
1x a year
S.W.E.E.P. curbside collection, up to 10 cubic yards, on your scheduled Sunday
8 p.m.
Sunday deadline to have your pile at the curb
Free
McKay Bay Scale House drop-off for furniture, mattresses, and 2 appliances per visit
Every route for yard waste in Tampa, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Tampa guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Tampa, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Tampa S.W.E.E.P. and McKay Bay drop-off: yard waste
FreeYard waste is collected weekly in paper bags or bundles; large limbs cut to 4 feet go on S.W.E.E.P., and McKay Bay takes yard waste free in paper bags or jute-tied bundles.
Who qualifies: Residential solid waste customers in single-family homes and buildings of 4 units or fewer with active City of Tampa accounts.
How to schedule: S.W.E.E.P. gives each household one prescheduled curbside bulk collection a year, up to 10 cubic yards, on a set Sunday; look up your date at tampa.gov/sweep. Between dates, residents with an active account dump furniture, mattresses, appliances (2 per visit), and yard waste free at the McKay Bay Scale House, or pay for a special pickup through 813-274-8811.
Limits: 10 cubic yards per S.W.E.E.P. collection; extra yards are billed. Up to 4 tires. McKay Bay: 2 appliances per visit.
Set-out: One pile at the curb on the right of way in front of your home no later than 8 p.m. on your Sunday S.W.E.E.P. date. Crews do not come back to cleared streets. Flat glass taped or wrapped; yard waste cut to 4 feet.
McKay Bay Scale House: yard waste
FreePaper bags or jute bundles only.
Where: 114 S. 34th St, Tampa, FL 33605
How it works: Free for City of Tampa residents with an active residential solid waste account and ID. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Saturday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Furniture, mattresses, appliances (2 per visit, grills without tanks), and yard waste in paper bags or bundles. No electronics or chemicals.
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 Tampa: 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 Tampa: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Tampa has one of the more generous free disposal systems in the U.S. for those who plan ahead: the S.W.E.E.P. program gives every residential household up to 10 cubic yards of free bulk pickup once per year on a scheduled date. Combined with twice-weekly trash collection, free self-haul access to McKay Bay Transfer Station, and donation programs, Tampa residents have several legitimate options. This page walks through every one.
The Tampa rule for yard waste: Yard waste is collected weekly in paper bags or bundles; large limbs cut to 4 feet go on S.W.E.E.P., and McKay Bay takes yard waste free in paper bags or jute-tied bundles.
Program basics: 10 cubic yards per S.W.E.E.P. collection; extra yards are billed. Up to 4 tires. McKay Bay: 2 appliances per visit. One pile at the curb on the right of way in front of your home no later than 8 p.m. on your Sunday S.W.E.E.P. date. Crews do not come back to cleared streets. Flat glass taped or wrapped; yard waste cut to 4 feet.
What the city will not take: Electronics (Hillsborough County collection sites, free), household hazardous waste, pressurized cylinders, metal drums, tires on rims, and boats.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Tampa Solid Waste: S.W.E.E.P. program, City of Tampa Solid Waste: Special Services (bulky pickup rules), City of Tampa: McKay Bay Scale House free disposal. 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 households who need same-week service or have items the city won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Tampa 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 Tampa with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Tampa proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Tampa 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 Tampa: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Tampa pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, weekly, plus limbs cut to 4 feet on S.W.E.E.P., or free at McKay Bay.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Tampa?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Tampa starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-week service or have items the city won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Tampa 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 Tampa page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Tampa guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.