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Getting rid of bulky items in Washington, DC

Last updated: 2026-10-28 · Last checked: 2026-10-28 against the official sources listed below.

Short answer: DC's Department of Public Works (DPW) picks up bulky items by appointment only: request a Residential Bulk Collection through 311 (call 311 or use 311.dc.gov), up to seven items per appointment. It covers homes and buildings with three or fewer units that get DPW trash service. Without an appointment, District residents can take bulk items to the Fort Totten Transfer Station (4900 John McCormack Rd NE) Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Curbside pickup rules

• DPW collects bulky items by appointment from households that receive DPW trash collection: single-family homes and residential buildings with three or fewer living units.
• Apartment buildings with four or more units, condominiums, co-ops and commercial properties must use a private, licensed hauler.
• No more than seven items are collected per appointment.
• Once your appointment is confirmed, set items out where your trash and recycling are collected between 6:30 p.m. the night before and 6 a.m. on the appointment day. Items left in public space at any other time can get a sanitation violation ticket.
• Accepted: household furniture, mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped in plastic), bed frames, major appliances such as refrigerators (doors removed), hot water heaters, air conditioners (drain water and fluids), rugs (rolled and tied) and large toys such as kiddie pools, playhouses and disassembled swing sets.
• Toilets (porcelain or plastic, including tanks and bowls) must be fully wrapped in plastic and sealed with tape or ties, or they may not be collected.
• Not accepted: bagged waste, household trash, electronics and TVs, hazardous or liquid waste, tires, tree stumps, yard waste, old trash or recycling bins, wooden pallets, and renovation debris such as bricks, concrete, ceiling tiles, drywall and dirt.

How to book

• Call 311 or go to 311.dc.gov and submit a Residential Bulk Collection service request before putting anything out; up to seven items per appointment.
• Put items out only after your appointment is confirmed, between 6:30 p.m. the night before and 6 a.m. on the day.

Item limits

• Up to seven items per appointment, at homes and buildings with three or fewer units.
• Up to four tires may be taken to the Fort Totten Transfer Station on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; they are not picked up with bulk trash.
• Small tree limbs go out tied with regular trash, and books go in the recycling cart. Yard waste is a separate 311 appointment (up to 20 paper bags).

Fees

• DPW's bulk collection and Fort Totten pages list no charge for residents; fees at the transfer station apply to licensed commercial haulers. Special Waste Collection Events are free, with free registration. Confirm with 311 if you're unsure.

Mattress recycling / state bans

• For curbside bulk collection, mattresses and box springs must be wrapped in plastic.
• At the Fort Totten Transfer Station, mattresses and box springs do not have to be wrapped.
• Covered electronic equipment is banned from the trash in DC; recycle it at a DPW Special Waste Collection Event or through the eCYCLE DC program.

Drop-off sites

• Fort Totten Transfer Station, 4900 John McCormack Rd NE, Washington, DC 20011: residents' drop-off Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Monday. It takes bulk items, trash, recycling and yard waste. The Benning Road Transfer Station is closed until further notice.
• Bring ID proving you're a District resident: a DC driver's license, or another state's photo ID plus a utility bill from the last 30 days or your lease or deed, with matching names. Waste must come from within DC.
• Allowed vehicles: passenger cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, passenger vans and rentals under 15 feet. Not allowed: commercial tags, trailers or tag-alongs, sideboards, ladder racks, stake bodies, cargo vans, box trucks and trucks longer than 15 feet. Businesses must use a commercial hauler.
• Fort Totten does not take household hazardous waste or electronics, food waste, construction and demolition debris, roofing, concrete, auto parts, tree stumps, shopping carts or motorized riding devices.
• TVs, computers and other electronics, plus household hazardous waste such as paint and chemicals, go to DPW's Special Waste Collection Events. Register free in advance on Eventbrite (one 30-minute arrival window per vehicle, no entry after 2 p.m., DC residents only, bring proof of residency).

FAQ

How do I book bulky item pickup in Washington?

Call 311 or go to 311.dc.gov and submit a Residential Bulk Collection service request before putting anything out; up to seven items per appointment. Put items out only after your appointment is confirmed, between 6:30 p.m. the night before and 6 a.m. on the day.

Is bulky item pickup free in Washington?

DPW's bulk collection and Fort Totten pages list no charge for residents; fees at the transfer station apply to licensed commercial haulers. Special Waste Collection Events are free, with free registration. Confirm with 311 if you're unsure.

Who is eligible for city bulky pickup in Washington?

Up to seven items per appointment, at homes and buildings with three or fewer units. DPW collects bulky items by appointment from households that receive DPW trash collection: single-family homes and residential buildings with three or fewer living units. Apartment buildings with four or more units, condominiums, co-ops and commercial properties must use a private, licensed hauler.

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

• Bulk Trash Collection | DC Department of Public Works
• Fort Totten Transfer Station | DC Department of Public Works
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), E-cycling, & Document Shredding | DC Department of Public Works
• Special Waste - Residents | Zero Waste DC
• Residential Collection Information & Requests | Zero Waste DC

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