Professional Yard Waste & Green Debris Removal in Irvine, CA
Saturday morning in Portola Springs. A homeowner woke to three massive tree branches down—Thursday’s windstorm casualties. One crushed his patio furniture. Another blocked the side gate contractors needed Monday. The third sat across his lawn, 30 feet long, 400 pounds.
HOA sent a violation notice by noon: debris removed within 72 hours or face $250 daily fines. City’s green waste pickup? Two weeks out—won’t take branches over six feet anyway. Landscapers fully booked. Truck rental? Branches won’t fit. DIY cutting? Chainsaw died after 10 minutes.
By Sunday, facing $250 daily fines starting Wednesday, he called us. We cleared all three branches, hauled the furniture, left his yard clean in 90 minutes. Cost: $750. His alternative: $1,750 in HOA fines over seven days.
Or you’re a Woodbridge homeowner post-landscape renovation. Contractor transformed your front yard beautifully. Left you with debris mountains: old shrubs, sod, soil, broken edging. Driveway looks like a landfill.
City green waste pickup handles grass clippings and small branches. Everything else requires professional removal.
Why Yard Waste Removal Isn’t City Curbside Pickup
City programs have strict limitations. Professional removal handles what they won’t.
Irvine provides green waste curbside pickup through Waste Management. Sounds convenient until you realize what they won’t accept: branches over six feet or four inches diameter, dirt, rocks, sod, patio furniture, BBQ grills, lawn equipment, pots, planters, anything inorganic.
If storms drop 20-foot branches Thursday and your pickup isn’t until next Tuesday, you’re looking at five days of HOA violation risk.
Professional removal handles everything city won’t: storm debris any size, landscape renovation leftovers, patio furniture, broken lawn equipment, dirt hauling, same-day or next-day service.
Volume matters. City limits you to your green bin plus bundled items. Landscape renovation generates 10-15 times that volume. For complete outdoor clearing, residential junk removal provides the foundation while yard waste removal adds outdoor specialization.
Storm Debris Removal: When Weather Hits Irvine
Storm debris creates urgent timelines and safety hazards.
Southern California storms hit harder than expected. High winds knock down branches, heavy rain destabilizes trees, flooding moves debris. You wake to an obstacle course.
The Portola Springs homeowner—real scenario. Thursday storm, branches Friday, HOA notice Saturday, $250 daily fines Wednesday. We’ve cleared Quail Hill storm debris facing insurance deadlines or weekend events.
Storm differences: Branches 20-30 feet, hundreds of pounds, impossible to move without equipment. Mixed materials: branches tangled with fencing, crushed furniture. Safety hazards. HOA timeline pressure: 48-72 hours. Emergency response needed.
Storm pricing reflects urgency. Emergency cleanup runs $500-$1,000—roughly double standard rates for same-day response, equipment, mixed material disposal. For urgent situations, same-day junk removal provides emergency response.
Landscape Renovation Debris: The Hidden Cost
Landscapers transform yards. Most don’t haul debris.
A University Park homeowner hired landscapers for drought-tolerant landscaping. Beautiful result. Landscapers left a 15-foot pile: old sod, removed shrubs, soil, broken sprinkler parts, old edging.
Contract said: “installation only, debris removal by homeowner.” Now debris covers half their driveway. City won’t take it.
Landscape debris: Old sod (heavy, bulky), removed shrubs (roots, soil clumps), excess soil (hundreds of pounds), broken irrigation (PVC, wiring), old hardscape (concrete, plastic, metal), plant packaging.
This isn’t pure green waste. It’s mixed organic and inorganic requiring sorting. Landscape debris pricing (January 2026): Small renovation (single bed): $200-$400. Medium project (front or backyard): $400-$600. Large renovation (full property): $600-$1,000.
Outdoor Junk, Branches & Dirt Hauling
Outdoor Junk Removal
An Eastwood homeowner cleared their side yard after five years: broken BBQ grill, rusty patio chairs, weathered table, dead planters, non-working mower, broken tools, wood pallets, hardened potting soil.
None qualified for city pickup. Professional removal cleared everything in one trip. Cost: $350.
Common outdoor junk: BBQ grills, patio furniture, lawn equipment, planters, playground equipment, miscellaneous items. Pricing: Single item: $100-$200. Small load: $150-$250. Medium load: $250-$400. Large load: $400-$600.
Tree Branch & Brush Removal
A Quail Hill homeowner hired arborists to trim three trees. Excellent work. Left three massive piles with “debris removal not included” on invoice. Approximately 8 cubic yards of branches. City won’t take it. HOA sent 48-hour notice.
Branch removal pricing: Small trimming: $150-$300. Medium job: $300-$500. Large trimming: $500-$800.
Dirt & Soil Hauling
A Woodbridge homeowner had pool removed. Contractors left eight cubic yards of dirt and broken concrete. Dirt alone weighed three tons.
Dirt hauling pricing: Small amount: $150-$300. Medium volume: $300-$500. Large volume: $500-$800. One cubic yard weighs 2,000-2,500 pounds.
Irvine HOA Compliance: Timeline Pressure on Yard Debris
Irvine HOAs have strict rules about visible debris. Violations cost more than professional removal.
Portola Springs, Quail Hill, Turtle Rock, Woodbridge communities have architectural standards requiring properties maintain clean, debris-free appearance. Visible yard debris—storm damage, renovation leftovers, outdoor junk—triggers violation notices quickly.
Typical HOA requirements: Debris removed within 48-72 hours. Items cannot be visible from street or common areas. Materials cannot block driveways, walkways, access. Continued violations result in escalating fines ($100-$250 per day typical).
Professional removal prevents HOA headaches. Next-day service standard, same-day available for emergencies. Complete clearing ensuring zero visibility concerns. Documentation if HOA requires proof.
The Portola Springs homeowner facing $250 daily fines—professional removal cost $750. Waiting seven days handling it himself: $1,750 in HOA fines alone, plus his time, equipment rental, disposal fees. The math isn’t close.
Timeline & Pricing for Yard Waste Removal
Standard response: next-day service for scheduled cleanups. Same-day available for emergencies (storm debris, HOA deadlines, urgent situations). Emergency storm cleanup: call before 10 AM for same-day, otherwise next-day guaranteed.
Pricing (January 2026, Irvine market based on competitive research):
- Small load (single item, minimal debris): $100-$250
- Medium load (patio set, several branches, moderate volume): $250-$450
- Large load (full renovation debris, major volume): $450-$800
- Storm debris (emergency response, urgent timeline): $500-$1,000 (roughly double standard pricing)
- Dirt/soil hauling: $150-$500 depending on volume
Volume-based pricing ensures you pay for what you have. On-site assessment provides accurate quotes before work begins.
FAQ: Yard Waste & Green Debris Removal in Irvine
Got Questions?
Need help with yard waste or outdoor debris removal in Irvine? These FAQs explain what city pickup won’t take, pricing, timelines, and HOA compliance.
Call us (949) 556-3600
Get Free QuoteCity pickup does not accept branches over 6 feet or 4 inches in diameter, dirt, soil, rocks, sod, patio furniture, BBQ grills, lawn equipment, pots, planters, or any inorganic materials. Professional removal handles everything the city refuses.
Storm debris removal typically ranges from $500–$1,000, depending on volume and urgency. Pricing is higher than standard removal due to emergency response and mixed materials. Same-day service is available.
Yes. Landscape debris includes old sod, removed plants, excess soil, irrigation parts, edging materials, and packaging. Pricing ranges from $200–$400 for small jobs, $400–$600 for medium, and $600–$1,000 for large projects.
Yes. Dirt hauling costs $150–$500 depending on volume. One cubic yard weighs approximately 2,000–2,500 pounds. We handle excavation leftovers, fill dirt, and contaminated soil.
Next-day service is standard. Same-day service is available for emergencies when you call before 10 AM. Storm debris and HOA deadline situations are prioritized.
We remove BBQ grills, patio furniture, lawn equipment, planters, outdoor storage units, playground equipment, and general yard junk. Pricing ranges from $100–$200 for single items up to $600 for large accumulated loads.
No. We do not cut or trim trees. We remove debris after arborists complete the work, including branches, brush, leaves, and wood chips. Pricing ranges from $150–$800 depending on volume.
Yes. We understand Irvine HOA requirements, typically 48–72 hours for debris removal. Next-day service is standard, with same-day available for urgent compliance situations.
Yard waste focuses on outdoor and landscape materials. Junk removal covers indoor furniture, appliances, and household items. Many projects require both services for complete property clearing.
Yes. Green waste goes to composting facilities, soil to appropriate disposal sites, metal items are recycled, and wood is reused or recycled when possible.
Contact JunkOut Irvine for Yard Waste Removal
Storm debris creating HOA pressure? Landscape renovation left debris everywhere? Years of outdoor junk piling up? Call (949) 556-3600 for immediate yard waste removal, or request a free estimate.
We serve all eight Irvine zip codes—Turtle Rock, Woodbridge, University Park, Portola Springs, Quail Hill, Eastwood, Airport Area, and Orchard Hills—with professional, fast, comprehensive yard waste and green debris removal. Whether handling storm emergencies, landscape project cleanup, or accumulated outdoor junk, we provide the equipment, expertise, and timeline responsiveness Irvine properties demand.