South Florida yards grow fast. A single palm trim fills a curb, a hedge cut-back can bury a driveway, and after a storm whole streets are lined with branches. When the pile is bigger than the city’s bulk pickup can take, a yard waste dumpster gives it somewhere to go.
Dumpsters Fort Lauderdale is an independent referral service, not a dumpster company. When you call or send the form, your request goes to an independent local roll-off provider that quotes the rental, delivers the container and hauls it away.
Why yard waste is often a separate load
Florida treats yard trash differently from other debris. Under the Florida Administrative Code, yard trash is kept out of Class I landfills, the ones that take household garbage. That is why many providers ask for yard waste on its own, or at least ask what is mixed in, and why a container of clean branches can be handled differently from one with branches and old furniture together.
- Usually fine in a yard waste load: palm fronds, branches, hedge and shrub cuttings, leaves, small logs.
- Ask first: stumps, root balls, sod, dirt and rock, which are heavy.
- Keep out: household trash, lumber, plastic pots and bags, paint and chemicals.
Which size to ask for
Yard waste is bulky but light, so containers tend to fill by space rather than weight. A 10 or 20 yard handles most single-home trims; a 30 yard suits a big lot or a landscaping job. Stumps, dirt and sod change that math because they are heavy, so mention them.
| Job | Size people usually ask for |
|---|---|
| A palm and hedge trim | 10 yard |
| Clearing an overgrown yard | 20 yard |
| Landscaping a large lot | 30 yard |
| Storm cleanup on one property | 20 or 30 yard |
When the city’s pickup is enough
Fort Lauderdale homes on city service can put yard waste out with bulk trash: tree trimmings, hedge cuttings and palm fronds, with limbs up to 12 feet long and 12 inches across. Tree stumps and sections over 12 feet are not taken, and the whole bulk pile must stay under 10 cubic yards, at the curb by 7 a.m. on pickup day and no earlier than 24 hours before. For a routine trim, that may cover it. For a full yard clearing or storm cleanup, a container is usually faster.
Storm cleanup
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. After a storm, branches, fronds and fence panels pile up quickly, and demand for containers rises across South Florida. Two things help:
- Keep yard debris separate from building debris such as roofing, fencing and drywall, because they may go to different places.
- Ask early. Describe the debris, the spot and how much there is, and let the provider tell you what it can do.
Safety first
Stay clear of downed power lines and let the utility handle anything touching a wire. Do not stack debris against fences, storm drains or fire hydrants.
Placing a yard waste container
Like any roll-off, it needs a flat, firm spot with open sky above, since the truck’s bed tilts to set it down. A driveway is ideal. A container on the swale or street is on city right-of-way, which the city controls; see the permit guide.
Trim smart
Cut long limbs into shorter lengths and lay them in the same direction. Fronds and branches packed flat take far less space than a tangled pile, and a well-packed container may let you choose a smaller size. Keep bags, pots and trash out of a yard waste load so it stays clean.
Got a yard full of fronds and branches? Call or send the form for a size.
For a whole-house project with yard work on top, the residential dumpster rental page covers the rest.
Questions people ask
Can I mix yard waste with household junk?
Ask the provider first. Florida keeps yard trash out of Class I landfills, so many providers prefer yard waste in its own load.
Will the city take my palm fronds?
Fort Lauderdale’s bulk pickup takes palm fronds, trimmings and limbs up to 12 feet long and 12 inches across, in a pile under 10 cubic yards.
Can stumps go in?
Ask first. Stumps and root balls are heavy and some providers handle them separately.
What size container do I need for a big palm trim?
A 10 yard handles most single-home trims. A larger lot or a full yard clearing may need a 20 or 30 yard.
Can I put leaves and grass clippings in?
Usually, as part of a yard waste load. Keep bags and plastic out so the load stays clean.
Before the truck comes
- Pick a flat, firm spot the truck can reach
- Keep the drop zone clear of cars, wires and branches
- Ask the city before anything goes on the street or swale
- Keep paint, tires, batteries and oil out
- Say the job and the debris when you ask for a size