Yard Waste and Brush Removal: When to Call a Pro
Yard waste and brush removal is one of the fastest-growing categories in residential junk removal, and for good reason. Most cities used to run curbside yard waste pickup as part of the regular trash service. That program has been scaled back or eliminated in over half of US cities since 2020 because of composting facility costs. The result: homeowners with a truckload of branches and no way to get rid of them. Here is when to call a pro and when to handle it yourself.
Section 01
What counts as yard waste
Yard waste is a broad category that varies by hauler, but the core includes brush, branches, leaves, grass clippings, small stumps, dead plants, and garden debris. It does not include dirt, rocks, sod, or landscape timbers, which are usually priced separately as heavy materials.
- Accepted: branches up to 6 inches diameter, leaves, grass, brush
- Accepted: small stumps (under 18 inches), dead plants, weeds
- Separate pricing: dirt, rocks, pavers, sod
- Not accepted: poison ivy in volume (biohazard in some markets)
- Not accepted: pressure-treated or creosote-soaked lumber
Section 02
When to handle it yourself
DIY yard waste is the right call in these situations.
- You have curbside yard waste pickup that is still running
- The volume fits in 3 or fewer paper lawn bags
- You have a pickup truck and a transfer station within 20 minutes
- Your city runs a free brush drop-off site on Saturdays
- You have a chipper or know someone with one
Section 03
When to call a pro
Call a full-service junk removal crew in these situations.
- After a storm with multiple downed branches or tree limbs
- A full yard cleanup with half a truckload or more of debris
- Brush and overgrowth clearing a neglected property
- Stumps over 12 inches that need to come out with the brush
- Estate properties where yard waste has been accumulating for months
Section 04
Typical pricing
Yard waste is priced like any other junk removal job: by volume. A 1/4 truck of branches runs $200 to $350. A 1/2 truck runs $325 to $500. A full truck of brush and yard waste runs $550 to $800 in most 2026 markets. Storm cleanup with heavy labor (cutting branches into manageable pieces, multiple trips through the yard) runs 20 to 40 percent higher.
Section 05
The chipper-versus-haul question
For homeowners with a lot of ongoing yard debris, renting a chipper for a weekend ($150 to $275) and mulching the brush on site is cheaper than repeat hauling over a year. The chipped material becomes free mulch for your garden beds. This only makes sense if you have ongoing yard waste, a place to use the mulch, and physical ability to run a chipper safely. For a one-time storm cleanup, hauling is almost always faster and cheaper than chipping.
Frequently Asked
Questions, answered.
Will junk removal take tree branches and brush?
Yes. Branches up to 6 inches in diameter, brush, leaves, and small stumps are standard items for residential yard waste pickup. Larger logs and big stumps may require separate pricing or a tree service.
Can I put yard waste in regular junk removal loads?
Yes, you can combine yard waste with indoor junk in a single load. Just tell the crew in advance so they know how to sort and price it.
What does it cost to haul away yard waste?
A quarter truck runs $200 to $350, half a truck $325 to $500, and a full truck $550 to $800. Storm cleanup with heavy cutting labor runs higher.
Will they take a dead tree?
Junk removal crews will take a tree that has already been cut down and sectioned. They do not do tree felling: that is a tree service job with arborist insurance and different equipment.
Need the job done?
Book a crew that knows the work.
Titan Group operates Junk King across six metros. Free on-site estimates, volume-based pricing, same-day and next-day availability.