Yard cleanup in Austin, TX: Scope and Disposal

Define the work before comparing quotes

Walk the yard and list the areas you want cleared: lawn, beds, fence line, paths and the space behind sheds. Name the tasks in each area. For example, ask for leaf removal from beds, hand removal of specified weeds, collection of fallen branches and a final sweep of paved surfaces. Mark plants and groundcover the crew should keep.

Send photos of debris piles and access points. Tell the contractor about gate width, steps, parking and the route from the backyard to the loading area. Ask whether the offer includes bags, branch preparation, loading and a final walkthrough. For hourly work, request the crew size, billing basis and an agreed spending limit before extra work begins.

Compare offers against the same scope. Ask each contractor to separate labor, hauling, disposal and optional work such as mowing or pruning. Request a total with applicable charges and a written process for approving changes. Avoid judging an offer by its headline amount while leaving the debris destination unresolved.

Choose curbside preparation or hauling

Austin Resource Recovery provides residential curbside service to single-family homes and multifamily properties with four units or fewer. Properties with five or more units must use a private hauler. Check your property's collection arrangement before asking a crew to leave bags or brush for city pickup. [3]

For weekly composting, Austin collects the green cart plus up to 15 extra items beside it. Put excess material in paper lawn and leaf bags or reusable containers no larger than 34 gallons and no heavier than 50 pounds. The city treats material in plastic bags as trash and applies extra trash fees. [2]

Small branches outside the cart must measure no more than five feet long and three inches thick, with manageable piles weighing no more than 30 pounds. Keep the cart lid closed, set it out by 5:30 a.m. on collection day and keep bike lanes and sidewalks clear. Ask the crew to include this preparation in its scope. [2]

For larger brush, check appointment availability before scheduling the cleanup. The city offers on-demand brush collection at no extra cost for its residential customers and homes in certain Limited Districts and Emergency Services Districts. Its residential services page lists on-demand brush collection up to three times a year. If you need the yard and curb cleared by a firm deadline, request a hauling option as well. [1] [3]

Check the disposal allowance

As of October 12, 2026, Hornsby Bend charges $9.80 per cubic yard and accepts up to six cubic yards of yard trimmings and brush per day. The facility accepts limbs, branches, shrubs and leaves. It excludes trash, construction materials, treated or painted lumber and particle board. Ask the contractor to identify mixed waste before loading it with plant debris. [1]

The drop-off address is 2210 FM 973. The city lists hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday, requires government-issued photo ID and accepts major credit cards and contactless payments rather than cash. Customers unload their own material. Ask who will unload and how the contractor will handle material beyond the daily limit. [1]

The city's composting page still mentions free Hornsby Bend drop-off, but the dedicated drop-off page announces the fee effective October 1, 2026. Use the dated fee announcement when reviewing a disposal allowance. Ask the contractor to distinguish the facility charge from loading, travel and unloading labor. [1] [2]

Keep oak work separate and prepare the site

The city advises avoiding oak pruning and other wounds from February through June, sanitizing pruning equipment between trees and painting wounds and fresh stumps regardless of season. An October cleanup still needs those equipment and wound precautions if the crew cuts oaks. Specify whether your job includes gathering fallen limbs or cutting attached branches. [4]

If you suspect oak wilt, ask a Certified Arborist with a certified applicator's license to diagnose and treat the trees, as the city recommends. Tell the cleanup contractor about the concern before anyone cuts or moves oak wood. Ask the specialist to direct the handling of suspected diseased material. [4]

Before the crew arrives, move furniture and pet items, identify irrigation heads and mark plants you want retained. Ask for evidence of insurance and clarify responsibility for accidental damage. Agree on a weather rescheduling plan and whether the crew may bring equipment across the lawn. At the walkthrough, check the agreed areas and confirm the debris has reached the destination in your quote.

Published Austin disposal and collection fees

Choose the debris plan before hiring

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph the work areas, debris piles, gates and loading route.
2. Mark plants to retain and identify irrigation heads.
3. Request the same clearing and finishing tasks in each quote.
4. Choose curbside preparation, hauling or a combination.
5. Confirm the disposal destination and who arranges collection.
6. Ask for separate labor, transport and disposal charges.
7. Define any oak pruning separately from debris collection.
8. Agree on extra-work approval and inspect the result before closing the job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hornsby Bend yard-waste drop-off still free?

No. The dedicated city drop-off page announces a $9.80-per-cubic-yard fee effective October 1, 2026, and a six-cubic-yard daily limit. Its dated announcement supersedes the free-drop-off reference on the composting page. [1] [2]

Can I hire a crew to leave leaves for city collection?

Yes, you can request curbside preparation as the agreed scope. Confirm that your property receives the service. Austin accepts paper lawn and leaf bags and suitable reusable containers, with up to 15 extra items beside the cart. Plastic bags go into trash collection and incur extra trash fees. [2] [3]

Does a hauling quote include the city disposal fee?

Ask the contractor to state that in writing. Request separate amounts for clearing, loading, transport and disposal, along with the intended destination. Hornsby Bend's $9.80-per-cubic-yard charge represents the facility fee, not a contractor's full cleanup price. [1]

Can the cleanup crew prune my oaks in fall?

The city's avoidance period runs from February through June, but it advises sanitizing pruning equipment between trees and painting wounds and fresh stumps regardless of season. Define pruning separately and seek the recommended specialist if you suspect oak wilt. [4]