Yard Waste Pickup In Missoula
One-Time Brush, Branch, and Debris Removal That Gets Composted, Not Landfilled
You know that pile. The one that started as a weekend pruning project and turned into a small mountain of branches stacked against the fence. Or the leaf pile that's been sitting since October. Or the aftermath of a windstorm that dropped half a cottonwood across your yard.
You could bag it all yourself, load up the truck, and drive it out to the dump. Or you could skip all of that and have us come get it. We haul yard waste and brush from Missoula homes, compost everything at Garden City Compost, and your pile is gone — usually within a week of when you call.
Here's how it works:
What We Pick Up
All woody debris and plant material. Branches, brush, tree limbs, hedge trimmings, garden cleanout waste, weeds, grass clippings, leaves, and seasonal stuff like pumpkins and Christmas trees. If it grew in your yard, we can haul it.
We can handle material of any size as long as a person can reasonably lift it. Got limbs too thick to pick up? We'll bring a chainsaw and break them down for an additional fee.
A few things we can't take:
Sod and loose dirt — this is the big one. Dirt and soil damage the grinders at the composting facility, so if your pile has a layer of dirt underneath it, we'll most likely leave that part behind. If you're pulling up sod or doing earthwork, that material needs to go a different route.
Stumps or single chunks over 100 lbs — we can chainsaw oversized wood into manageable pieces, but we can't lift a 200-pound stump into the truck.
Painted or stained wood — chemical treatments don't belong in the compost stream. Untreated wood with nails is fine though — nails get screened out during processing.
Material that isn't curbside — we need your pile on the curb, in the alley, or on the driveway. We can't drag branches across your property from the backyard. If access is an issue, a fee may apply — reach out and we'll figure it out.
For the complete rundown of what goes in a compost stream, see our compost guide.
Pricing
We keep it simple — pick the size that matches your pile and order online. Most jobs get scheduled within a week. If you're in a rush, call us before ordering and we'll see what we can do.
Holiday Haul — $10 Jack-o'-lanterns and Christmas trees. Seasonal cleanup, priced to make it a no-brainer.
Small Pile — $25 About knee-high, or up to 10 bags of leaves. This is your typical weekend garden cleanup — a few armloads of trimmings, a pile of pulled weeds, some raked leaves.
Mid-Size Pile — $150 About a pickup truck load of branches. This is what most people call us for — a pruning project that got bigger than expected, a hedge that finally got cut back, or a couple months of yard waste that piled up.
Large Pile — $350 Up to 10 cubic yards. You've got a serious cleanup on your hands — storm damage, a major tree trimming, or a full-yard spring cleanout. This needs a trailer.
Huge Pile — $550 Over 10 cubic yards. This is the big one — you need a garbage truck. Major storm aftermath, property clearing, or years of accumulated brush.
Chainsaw Fee — +$100 If your pile has wood too big for a person to lift, we'll bring a chainsaw and break it down on-site.
Not sure what size your pile is? Email a photo to info@missoulacompost.com and we'll tell you which tier it falls into. We'd rather give you an accurate quote upfront than surprise you later.
How It Works
Go to our one-time pickup page, select your pile size, add the chainsaw fee if needed, and check out. We'll contact you to schedule the pickup — most jobs happen within a week.
Get your pile to the curb, driveway, or alley before your scheduled pickup day. We come by, load everything up, and haul it straight to Garden City Compost on Clark Fork Lane. Your branches and brush become finished compost and soil — not landfill.
That's it. No subscription, no commitment, no recurring charge. One pile, one pickup, done.
Where It Goes
This is the part that makes us different from a dumpster rental or a trip to the dump. Everything we haul goes to Garden City Compost, the City of Missoula's composting facility. Your branches get ground up, mixed into windrows, and processed into Class A compost, topsoil, and lawn topdressing that goes right back into Missoula yards and gardens.
If you want some of that finished product back, we deliver compost and soil by the cubic yard — including Grade-A compost, enriched topsoil, potting soil, and lawn topdressing. Clean out the old stuff, bring in the new. Read our full guide to soil delivery in Missoula to see which product fits your project.
When People Usually Call
Spring cleanout (March–May): The snow melts, you see the damage, and everything that's been buried since November needs to go. This is our busiest season for one-time pickups — schedule early.
Post-storm cleanup: Missoula gets its share of wind events. When a storm drops branches across your yard, you don't want to wait two weekends to deal with it. Call us and it's handled.
Fall leaf season (September–November): Cottonwoods and maples don't mess around in Missoula. If you've got 30 bags of leaves and no patience left, that's what the small and mid-size tiers are for.
Holiday cleanup (November–January): Pumpkins after Halloween, Christmas trees after New Year's. Our $10 Holiday Haul makes this easy.
Major pruning or landscaping projects: If you're hiring a landscaper or doing a big DIY project and need the debris hauled afterward, the large and huge pile tiers cover it. Some landscapers in Missoula actually recommend us to their clients for the haul-away.
Tips to Make Your Pickup Go Smoothly
Use paper lawn bags for leaves and small debris. Plastic bags are a problem — we either have to empty them on-site (which adds time and cost) or leave them behind. Paper lawn bags compost right along with the contents. We sell paper lawn bags in packs of 5 through our shop.
Keep your pile curbside. The closer to the street, the faster the job. If it's in the backyard behind a gate, we'll need to discuss access and there may be an additional fee.
Separate dirt from plant material. If you've been pulling up garden beds and there's a mix of roots, weeds, and soil, shake off as much dirt as you can. Clean organic material goes through the composting process smoothly — dirt clogs the grinders and can get your pile partially rejected.
Break down what you can. You don't need to go crazy, but cutting longer branches down to manageable lengths speeds up loading and keeps the price accurate to your pile size.
Want Ongoing Pickup Instead?
If you find yourself calling us every month or two for yard waste, it might be worth looking at our weekly residential compost pickup. Starting at $19.21/month, you get a bin that handles both food scraps and yard waste on a weekly schedule — no more waiting for piles to build up. Extra yard waste beyond what fits in the bin can go in paper lawn bags beside it for $5 per three bags.
Read our complete guide to residential curbside compost pickup to see how it works and which bin size fits your household.
Common Questions
"Can you come this week?" Usually, yes. Most jobs get scheduled within a week of ordering. If it's urgent — a storm just hit, you've got a deadline — call us at (406) 370-5876 before ordering online and we'll do our best to prioritize it.
"I'm not sure what size my pile is." Snap a photo and email it to info@missoulacompost.com. We'll tell you which tier it is and whether the chainsaw fee applies. We do this all the time — it takes us about 30 seconds to look at a photo and give you an accurate answer.
"Can I mix yard waste and food scraps in my one-time pile?" The one-time service is designed for yard waste and brush — the bulky stuff that doesn't fit in a weekly bin. If you've got food scraps mixed in, that's fine in small quantities, but if you're generating meaningful food waste regularly, weekly curbside pickup is a better fit.
"Do you pick up construction debris?" Only untreated, unpainted wood. No drywall, concrete, metal, roofing, or treated lumber. If it grew, we'll take it. If it was manufactured, it needs a different hauler.
"What about plastic bags full of leaves?" We strongly prefer paper lawn bags. If your leaves are already in plastic, we can empty them on-site, but it slows the job down and may result in a higher quote. For future reference, grab some paper lawn bags from our shop before raking season — they're compostable and make the whole process cleaner.
Schedule Your Pickup
Head to our one-time pickup page, pick your pile size, and check out. We'll reach out to schedule. Or if you want a quote first, email a photo of your pile to info@missoulacompost.com.
Your pile's been sitting there long enough.
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Missoula Compost Collection is a locally owned, family-operated company partnering with Garden City Compost and the City of Missoula to keep organic waste out of the landfill and return it to the soil. Questions? Call us at (406) 370-5876 or email info@missoulacompost.com. Want weekly service? Start residential compost pickup starting at $19.21/month.