Heavy Trash Pickup: How It Works and What It Costs [2026]

Heavy trash — also called bulk trash, bulky waste, or large item pickup — covers household items too big for your regular trash can. Every city defines it slightly differently, but most include:

• •Furniture: Couches, recliners, tables, chairs, dressers, desks, bookshelves, entertainment centers
• •Mattresses and box springs: All sizes accepted curbside
• •Appliances: Refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves, microwaves
• •Exercise equipment: Treadmills, ellipticals, weight benches, stationary bikes
• •Electronics: TVs, monitors, large speakers
• •Other large items: Water heaters, grills, lawnmowers (drained of gas), bicycles

Heavy trash does NOT include construction debris (drywall, lumber, concrete), hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, batteries), or items attached to your home (fencing, decking). These require separate disposal.

Most US cities offer free or low-cost heavy trash collection for residents. The process works like this:

• •Schedule a pickup: Call 311 or visit your city's website. Some cities have dedicated apps or online portals. A few cities like Houston have switched from scheduled routes to on-demand systems.

• •Set items at the curb: Place heavy trash curbside the night before or morning of your scheduled collection. Items must be separated from regular trash and recycling.

• •Wait for collection: Response times vary wildly. NYC picks up within days. Houston's on-demand system has averaged 2,600+ missed pickups per month since launching. Most cities fall in the 2–4 week range.

• •Item limits: Many cities cap the number of items per pickup. Denver allows 5 items every 9 weeks. Indianapolis allows 2 bulky items per regular collection day. NYC allows 6 large items per collection day.

The biggest drawback: unpredictable timing. If you need items gone this week — for a move, a showing, or an HOA deadline — city pickup often can't deliver.

City heavy trash schedules vary dramatically across the US:

• •New York City: Free, every regular collection day. Up to 6 large items. Schedule at nyc.gov/311.
• •Houston: On-demand system replaced quarterly routes. Call 311 to request. Long delays reported — many residents wait 4–6+ weeks.
• •Indianapolis: 2 bulky items per regular collection day, no appointment needed. Same-day as regular trash.
• •Phoenix: Free scheduled appointments through bulk trash program. Call 602-262-6251.
• •Denver: Free every 9 weeks. Maximum 5 items per pickup. Schedule through denvergov.org.
• •Los Angeles: Free, schedule through LA 311. Typically 1–2 week wait.
• •Memphis: Twice per month on your regular collection day.
• •Miami: $31 per cubic yard for heavy items. Schedule through 311.
• •Raleigh: $35 per bulky load.
• •Portland: Per-item rates — a sofa costs about $28 for curbside collection.
• •Dallas: One free 20-cubic-yard oversize collection per year.

Don't see your city? Call 311 or search "[your city] heavy trash pickup" for local schedules and rules.

Heavy trash pickup and junk removal solve the same problem — getting rid of big stuff — but they work differently:

• •City heavy trash pickup is a municipal service. It's free or cheap, runs on the city's schedule, and only handles items placed at the curb. You do the lifting. Wait times range from same-day (Indianapolis) to 6+ weeks (Houston). No flexibility on timing.

• •Full-service junk removal (1-800-GOT-JUNK, College Hunks, LoadUp) sends a crew into your home to carry items out. They handle the lifting. Prices run $100–$400+ and you get to pick a date within 1–3 days. Convenient but expensive.

• •Curbside junk removal (Dropcurb) sits in the middle. You place items at the curb, a local hauler picks them up same-day. At $79, it's cheaper than full-service and faster than city pickup. Ideal when you can move items outside but can't wait weeks for the city.

Heavy trash pickup costs range from free to $400+ depending on the service:

• •City pickup (free–$35/item): Most cities include heavy trash collection in your regular trash bill at no extra charge. A few charge per item ($28–$35) or per cubic yard ($31). Check with 311.

• •Waste hauler add-ons ($25–$50/item): Waste Management and Republic Services offer bulk pickup for current customers. Waste Connections charges a trip fee of $82.20/hour with a half-hour minimum.

• •Dropcurb ($79 flat): Same-day curbside pickup. One price, any household item at the curb. Book at dropcurb.com in 60 seconds.

• •LoadUp ($75–$200+): Per-item pricing online plus a $50–80 service area fee. Full-service crew enters your home.

• •1-800-GOT-JUNK ($150–$400+): Volume-based pricing by truck fraction. Minimum $100–$150. No prices shown online. Requires an on-site estimate.

• •Self-haul ($15–$75): Drive items to a transfer station. Dump fees run $15–50 per load at most facilities. You supply the truck and labor.