Once a tree is trimmed — or comes down in a storm — the next question is always the same: what do I do with all this brush? Dublin homeowners actually have good options, because the City of Dublin runs two separate programs that most people mix up: a scheduled curbside chipper service for branches, and a weekly yard-waste pickup for the smaller stuff. Here is how each one works, what it will and will not take, and where a professional crew fills the gap.
Dublin's Free Curbside Chipper Service
The city's chipper service is the one Dublin residents lean on after pruning or light storm cleanup. It is free, but it is not automatic — you schedule it. The key details:
- How to schedule: call the service Hot Line at 614.410.4780 (24 hours) or file an online service request with the city.
- Turnaround: a crew comes within roughly one to seven business days, depending on when the truck is in your zone.
- Season: chipping runs Monday through Thursday in the busy months and scales back to two days a week (Wednesday and Thursday) from late October into February.
- Limit: one truck load per household per request.
What it takes: tree and shrub clippings only. Stack branches at the curb with the cut ends toward the street. What it will not take: vines or honeysuckle, and no firewood, cut logs, lumber, boards, wire, or general debris. You can confirm the current rules on the City of Dublin's Curbside Chipper Service page.
Weekly Yard-Waste Collection (Mondays)
Separate from the chipper, Dublin picks up yard waste every Monday, year round — no scheduling needed. This is for the light material: grass clippings, leaves, weeds, and spent garden plants. Put it in biodegradable paper yard-waste bags or a container clearly marked for yard waste, and have it curbside by 7 a.m. Details and any holiday changes are on the city's Yard Waste page. In autumn the city also runs a dedicated bulk leaf-collection program.
Where the City Programs Stop — and a Pro Starts
Both city programs are built for trimmings and light yard debris. They are not built for the heavy part of a tree job. The chipper crew will not take:
- The trunk and large-diameter rounds after a removal.
- Stumps — those need grinding, not chipping.
- Storm volume — a whole downed tree or a split canopy is far more than one truck load, and usually has to come out quickly for safety.
That is exactly the work we handle. When Dublin Tree Pros does a tree removal, we haul away the wood and can grind the stump below grade the same visit — so you are not left with a pile the city will not collect. For what a removal typically runs, see our Dublin tree removal cost guide.
The Simple Rule of Thumb
Think of it as a size ladder. Leaves and clippings go out Monday with the yard waste. Branches and brush get stacked at the curb and scheduled for the city chipper. Trunks, big logs, stumps, and storm-downed trees are a job for a tree service that hauls and grinds. Handling a tree yourself and just need the brush gone? The city has you covered. Facing anything bigger — or a hazardous tree over the house — start with a professional.
Planning ahead for storm season is the cheapest way to avoid the big-volume mess in the first place — see our storm-season tree prep guide. And if a tree has already come down, we offer emergency tree removal in Dublin. Not sure whether a tree should come out at all? Start with the signs a tree needs removal, then request a free assessment.