Quick Verdict
Yard cleanup runs $125 to $400 nationally, with small bagged pickups at the low end and full-truck storm or seasonal cleanouts at the top or above it. Season matters significantly -- spring cleanup and post-storm hauls are the busiest, highest-priced periods. Winter is cheaper but often dangerous for crews. Summer is usually the best combination of price and availability.
Oregon's rainy season creates unique yard waste problems: waterlogged clippings are heavier, fallen branches pile up after wind events, and composting timelines slow down for homeowners trying to DIY.
What Drives the Price
Volume
Yard waste is priced by truck volume the same way household junk is. A small pile of bagged clippings fits a minimum load. A season's worth of branches, leaves, and soil fills half a truck or more. Full storm cleanouts can exceed a full truck.
Debris Type
| Type | Relative Cost |
|---|---|
| Grass clippings and leaves | Baseline |
| Small branches (under 2" diameter) | Baseline |
| Large branches (2-6" diameter) | +10-25% |
| Logs and trunk sections | +25-50% |
| Soil, sod, rocks | +30-100% (heavy) |
| Mixed yard debris + construction scraps | +25-75% (disposal split) |
Heavy materials cost more because tipping fees at Oregon composting facilities and transfer stations scale with weight.
Disposal Destination
Clean organic waste goes to a composting facility (cheaper tipping). Mixed waste -- yard debris combined with fence pieces, old planters, or building material -- has to go to a landfill (more expensive).
Season
- Spring (March-May): peak demand, prices firm at higher end of range.
- Summer (June-August): steady demand, best availability.
- Fall (September-November): second peak, leaves and pruning.
- Winter (December-February): storm events spike demand unpredictably; baseline is cheaper.
Access
Backyard piles, fenced yards with narrow gates, and steep slopes all add labor. A crew that has to wheel debris through a house or down a long path charges more.
Regional Labor
Portland Metro, Bend, and Eugene tend to price higher than rural markets. Drive time to composting facilities adds to quotes in outlying areas.
What Yard Waste Removal Costs
Industry Baseline Range
| What is being priced | Published national range |
|---|---|
| Yard cleanup | $125 to $400 |
Source: HomeGuide, "Yard Cleanup Cost" national cost guide.
These are industry baseline ranges for planning only and may not reflect Otesse's price. Otesse pricing is calculated for your specific home and ZIP code, so enter your ZIP in the price box on this page for your instant price.
Current Market Reality
Oregon yard waste disposal has gotten more expensive since 2023:
- Composting tipping fees have risen at most regional facilities.
- Fuel cost for trucks hauling bulky, low-density yard waste eats into margins.
- Storm response after wind events in the Willamette Valley and coastal areas creates temporary surges that push prices to the top of the range.
- Soil and sod have become more expensive to dispose of because landfill tipping scales with weight, and saturated Oregon soil is heavy.
Baseline ranges assume dry, clean, organic-only debris. Wet leaf piles after October rain can easily double in weight versus the same volume dry -- and this passes through as a disposal surcharge at the facility.
| Pushes the price up | Pulls it down |
|---|---|
| Wet leaves, soil, or sod | Dry, light brush |
| Logs that need cutting | Material already cut to length |
| Mixed debris that cannot be composted | Clean, organic-only debris |
| Post-storm or spring peak demand | A quieter summer slot |
Every load is different, so the real number depends on volume, weight, access, and what is in the pile. Enter your ZIP in the price box on this page for your instant price.
Real-World Scenarios
A Beaverton homeowner with a half-garage full of summer yard debris. Grass clippings, small branches, and leaves bagged. Crew quoted a half truck. Final price near the middle of the baseline range above.
A Portland homeowner after a November wind event. Two downed branches (one around 4" diameter, one around 6"), plus scattered debris across the yard. Crew needed to cut the bigger limb into sections for transport. Total came in toward the low end of the baseline range above plus the cutting surcharge.
A Salem family doing a full spring cleanup. Multiple beds cleared, old soil and sod removed, shrubs trimmed. Half-truck of yard debris plus half-truck of heavy soil (priced separately for weight). Combined job came in above the top of the baseline range above because of the soil component.
An Eugene property with storm-snapped tree limbs. Multiple downed branches across a sloped backyard. Required dragging debris uphill to the truck. Access premium landed the quote above what a flat-yard job of that size would run.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
Estimate Volume by Bag Count
A standard lawn bag holds about 30 gallons, or roughly 4 cubic feet. A dozen full bags is roughly 1.5 cubic yards. This helps crews estimate before they see the yard.
Photograph the Pile
Wide shots of the yard and close-ups of any oversized debris (logs, stumps, rocks). Photos beat descriptions.
Disclose Heavy Items
Soil, sod, rocks, concrete chunks, old flowerpots with dirt. Tell the crew up front. See yard debris removal after storm for storm-specific logistics.
Note Access Challenges
Steep driveway, locked gate, long backyard walk, fenced area only accessible through house. Each adds labor time.
Ask About Composting vs Landfill
A reputable Oregon crew diverts compostable material to regional composters rather than landfill. This keeps your job greener and sometimes marginally cheaper.
When to Call a Pro
- Storm damage with branches too heavy or tangled for DIY.
- Accumulated seasonal debris that has grown past what your curbside yard debris cart can handle.
- Large planter or soil removal.
- Heavy items that would damage your vehicle if self-hauled.
- Rental property turnover where time matters more than DIY savings.
For broader seasonal context, see rainy season home maintenance Oregon.
FAQ
Can my curbside yard waste cart handle all of this? For ongoing weekly yard work, yes. For seasonal blitzes or storm cleanup, no -- the volume exceeds what a single cart can hold for weeks, and branches over a certain diameter are not accepted.
Is a chipper cheaper than removal? For very large branch volumes, a chipper rental or arborist service can be comparable. For mixed yard waste, removal is almost always faster.
What about stumps? Stump removal is a different service that requires grinding equipment. See yard debris removal after storm and our service pages for how that works.
Is it legal to burn yard waste in Oregon? Rules vary by county and by season. Many Oregon jurisdictions ban backyard burning outright. Never burn during a burn-ban period.
Can I bundle yard waste with other junk? Yes. Bundled pickups usually cost less per cubic yard than separate jobs.
Seasonal Yard Waste Cleanup Quote
For seasonal yard waste and storm debris, see junk removal. Enter your ZIP in the price box to see which services are available at your address. Contact us for a quote or see our full yard waste removal cost guide and how to get rid of yard waste Oregon. If you also need exterior cleanup, see pressure washing services.
