City brush pickup in Collin County skips more than most people expect: stumps, dirt, plastic bags, oversized limbs and tree-service debris are common exclusions. The rules differ by city, so check yours first. For what the curb won't take, Cowboy Site Services hauls it off, priced by trailer space from $189.
Why did the brush truck skip my pile?
Weekend yard work tends to make piles that don't match the rules. A limb is too thick, a bundle is too heavy, or the leaves went in the wrong bag. The crew is told to leave those behind.
Every city sets its own limits. What works in Plano can get skipped in Frisco. Here's what a few of our nearby cities say they won't take.
Stumps, dirt and landscaping material
This is the biggest category of skipped piles. Frisco's yard waste page says its program doesn't accept tree stumps, root balls, dirt, soil, mulch, pallets, fencing or concrete.
Allen's yard waste page says its collection won't accept dirt, gravel, concrete, rock, sod or other construction or landscaping materials. If you just redid a flower bed, that pile probably isn't city brush.
Limbs that are too big or too heavy
Size and weight limits catch a lot of storm and trimming piles. McKinney's residential trash page says limbs must be cut to 4-foot lengths and be no more than 6 inches across. McKinney's weekly collection is limited to 10 bags or bundles total.
Frisco requires limbs cut into three-foot lengths and caps each bundle at 30 pounds. Melissa's bulk items page takes bundled brush only, up to 4 by 2 feet and 40 pounds, with no loose brush.
Plano's yard trimmings page asks for trunk pieces or stumps of 50 pounds or less, set in separate piles from smaller brush.
The wrong bag or the wrong rope
Bags and ties trip people up more than you'd think. Allen requires leaves and clippings in paper lawn bags and says plastic bags won't be collected. McKinney's bulky item collection excludes bagged yard waste, so leaves belong with weekly yard pickup instead.
Ties matter too. Prosper's trash and recycling page says brush bundles must weigh 50 pounds or less and be tied with biodegradable cotton or jute rope only.
Debris from a tree service or landscaper
If you paid someone to trim or remove a tree, the city usually won't haul their mess. Allen says a contractor hired to trim or remove trees must handle all the debris, and the city's hauler won't collect it.
Prosper says yard debris from commercial landscaping or tree services can't be left at the curb or taken to its 5th Street bulk drop-off. Before you hire a crew, ask whether haul-off is included.
Piles that are just too big
Some cities are generous on count but still have limits. Celina's trash and recycling page collects unlimited tied brush in bundles up to 4 by 2 feet and 50 pounds. For piles beyond standard limits, Celina encourages residents to ask its hauler for a custom collection quote.
In Anna, timing is the catch. Anna's recycling services page says yard waste rides along with bulky item pickup on the regular day every third week of the month.
Check your city's full rules
These are just the common snags. Each city guide covers the full list, including bundle sizes, bag rules and pickup days:
What to do with what the city won't take
You have three choices. You can cut and re-bundle it to fit the rules, haul it to a drop-off site yourself, or have it hauled off.
Our yard debris and brush removal service takes the piles the curb leaves behind. Thick limbs, mixed landscaping waste and old fence panels can all go in one load, with no bundling.
Big brush and clearing jobs sometimes need rented or subcontracted equipment. We'll quote those with the right gear, and we won't promise same-day on a job that needs a machine.
What does a brush haul-off cost?
We price by how much room the pile takes on our 14-foot trailer. A minimum pickup starts at $189, a half trailer load at $515 and a full trailer load at $759.
Send photos for an honest estimate. We confirm a firm quote on site before loading, and it doesn't change after you say go.
Clear the curb for good
We're Veteran-owned and based in McKinney, serving towns across Collin and Grayson County. Same-day service is available when the schedule allows.
Send photos for a quote. Pick a time. We haul it off and sweep up.