Mobile County, AL Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Curbside yard trash/rubbish limit
- 1 cubic yard per week
- Garbage/rubbish receptacle limit
- Up to three 30-gallon cans
- Rubbish pickup frequency
- At least once weekly
- Unauthorized accumulation
- More than 7 days is unlawful
- Who collects
- County-franchised permitted haulers only
Summary
In unincorporated Mobile County, yard trash counts as rubbish and gets picked up weekly, but Section 45-49-252.06 caps curbside rubbish pickup at one cubic yard per week per residence. The county code defines yard trash as tree and shrub trimmings, grass clippings and palm fronds, and anything beyond that cap needs a special arrangement.
(52) YARD TRASH. Vegetative matter resulting from landscaping maintenance such as trees and shrub trimmings, grass clippings, and palm fronds. ... b. The collector shall be required to pick up all garbage and rubbish not in excess of three 30-gallon receptacles generated by a residential premises, provided same is placed in a proper place. The collector shall also be required to pick up rubbish from the curbside in an amount not exceeding one cubic yard per week.
Full Breakdown
Alabama Code Section 45-49-252, enacted by Act 81-450, defines YARD TRASH as "vegetative matter resulting from landscaping maintenance such as trees and shrub trimmings, grass clippings, and palm fronds," and treats it as a form of RUBBISH, which is separately defined to include "yard clippings" alongside paper, cardboard, wood and similar combustible waste. 06(a)(2)b requires the county's franchised residential collector to pick up rubbish from the curbside in an amount not exceeding one cubic yard per week, in addition to garbage and rubbish placed in up to three 30-gallon receptacles.
Rubbish, including bagged yard trash, is collected at least once a week under the part's general schedule, separate from the twice-weekly pickup for other residential waste. 03. 14(b) makes it "unlawful to allow an unauthorized accumulation of rubbish, yard trash, garbage, and putrescible waste" on a residential or commercial lot that is not a licensed salvaging operation, and the code separately defines an unauthorized accumulation as one lasting more than seven days. Large quantities of trimmed trees, sod or lumber beyond ordinary bagged yard trash instead fall under the part's special bulky-waste pickup provision and must be arranged directly with the collector.
Violations & Fines
Piling yard trash, grass clippings or trimmings beyond the one-cubic-yard weekly curbside limit, or letting it sit more than seven days, is an unauthorized accumulation under Section 45-49-252.14(b) and a violation of the solid waste part. Section 45-49-252.17 makes any violation of the part a Class C misdemeanor under Section 13A-7-29, and county enforcement staff first issue a written notice specifying the violation and the time allowed to correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much yard trash can I put at the curb in Mobile County?
How often is yard waste collected in unincorporated Mobile County?
Can I haul my own yard waste to the dump instead of waiting for pickup?
What happens if yard trash piles up in my yard for weeks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mobile County
Compare Mobile County to another location·View the Alabama trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.