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Getting rid of bulky items in Seattle, WA

Last updated: 2026-10-29 · Last checked: 2026-10-29 against the official sources listed below.

Short answer: Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) picks up bulky items through its paid Special Item Pickup: $31 per item for furniture, mattresses, appliances and TVs, or $39.25 for refrigerators and freezers made before 2005 that contain CFCs. The utility account holder books it online or by calling (206) 684-3000, and the charge goes on the utility bill. Renters and apartment residents go through their property manager. You can also haul items yourself to SPU's North or South Transfer Station, open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

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Rules change. Confirm with the city before setting anything out.

Curbside pickup rules

Special Item Pickup is a paid, on-request service for SPU customers; there is no free bulky pickup day. Items are collected and recycled where possible.
Covered items include furniture, dressers, cabinets, tables, chairs, sofas, mattresses, box springs, appliances, refrigerators, freezers, stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners, TVs, monitors and computers larger than 2 x 2 x 2 feet.
Each item must weigh 300 lbs or less and be no more than 8 feet tall or 4 feet in diameter.
Remove refrigerator and freezer doors that have latches, and cover items on rainy days.
Single-family homes: items are collected on your next regular garbage day after you book. Set them out where your garbage is normally collected, on a flat, level spot (no stairs) easy to reach from the street, by 7 a.m.
Don't put anything out until your pickup is confirmed. Leaving bulky items in planting strips or the right-of-way is illegal dumping and can be fined.

How to book

Log in to your SPU utility account and choose Special Item Pickup, or call SPU Customer Service at (206) 684-3000, Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The person responsible for the combined utility bill must make the request, because the charge appears on that bill.
Renters and apartment residents can't book it themselves: ask your property manager or building owner, who books it and agrees on a set-out spot a driver can reach without keys or fobs.

Item limits

Large items: 300 lbs maximum, 8 feet tall maximum, 4 feet in diameter maximum.
Smaller extras: one free Special Item Box (2 x 2 x 2 feet, up to 60 lbs of small electronics, bulbs, batteries and small propane canisters) and one free battery pickup per year since April 1, 2026; call (206) 684-3000 to order them. Foam blocks (two 32-gallon bags) are picked up free.
Transfer stations don't accept material over 8 feet long and over 200 lbs.

Fees

Special Item Pickup: $31 per large item; $39.25 per refrigerator or freezer made before 2005 that contains CFCs. Customers in SPU's Utility Discount Program get a discount.
Transfer station rates as of April 1, 2026: garbage $37 minimum per trip (covers up to 420 lbs), then $174 per ton; appliances $34 each, limit 2 per load, and refrigerators must be empty with doors removed; recyclables only, no charge; unsecured loads cost extra.
Stations take cash, check, Visa or MasterCard; bring valid ID if paying by check.

Mattress recycling / state bans

Washington has no statewide mattress recycling program yet; mattress producer-responsibility bills were introduced in 2025 and 2026 but did not pass.
SPU says items from Special Item Pickup, including mattresses and box springs, are recycled where possible.
TVs, computers, monitors and laptops can be recycled free at authorized E-Cycle Washington sites, and Seattle's transfer stations don't accept TVs or monitors.

Drop-off sites

North Transfer Station, 1350 N 34th St, Seattle 98103.
South Transfer Station, 130 S Kenyon St, Seattle 98108.
Hours at both: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day (the North station is also closed July 4). Rates and hours: (206) 684-8400.
Stations take garbage, yard waste, tires, household appliances (no commercial appliances) and household sharps. Loads must be secured. Commercial truck traffic is heaviest weekdays 3 to 5 p.m.
Not accepted: hazardous waste, oil paint and household chemicals, electronics and TVs or CRT monitors, furnaces, wood stoves and duct work, asbestos, propane and fuel tanks, and recyclable construction debris such as concrete, bricks and clean wood.

FAQ

How do I book bulky item pickup in Seattle?

Log in to your SPU utility account and choose Special Item Pickup, or call SPU Customer Service at (206) 684-3000, Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The person responsible for the combined utility bill must make the request, because the charge appears on that bill. Renters and apartment residents can't book it themselves: ask your property manager or building owner, who books it and agrees on a set-out spot a driver can reach without keys or fobs.

Is bulky item pickup free in Seattle?

Special Item Pickup: $31 per large item; $39.25 per refrigerator or freezer made before 2005 that contains CFCs. Customers in SPU's Utility Discount Program get a discount. Transfer station rates as of April 1, 2026: garbage $37 minimum per trip (covers up to 420 lbs), then $174 per ton; appliances $34 each, limit 2 per load, and refrigerators must be empty with doors removed; recyclables only, no charge; unsecured loads cost extra. Stations take cash, check, Visa or MasterCard; bring valid ID if paying by check.

Who is eligible for city bulky pickup in Seattle?

Not stated on the City pages reviewed; confirm with 311.

Paid option: junk removal

Not eligible for city pickup (for example, a larger apartment building) or need it gone sooner? A private junk removal service can haul items from inside your home for a fee. [Partner link not yet active]

Disclosure: Free official options are always listed first. If a paid-removal link appears, it may be an affiliate link and we may earn a commission at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

Official sources

Moving soon? Print our free moving-day bulky item disposal checklist. Need a lease, title, or other document notarized? See free notary options in this city on Notary Where (sister site).

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