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New York City Bulk Trash Pickup
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026 · Source: NYC311 — Bulk Item Disposal
New York City removes bulk items from residential buildings for free at the curb. Put out up to 6 items between 6 PM and midnight the night before the right collection day. No appointment is needed, and appointments can no longer be scheduled.
Quick answer
- Cost: free curbside removal of bulk items from residential buildings (NYC311).
- Limit: up to 6 items at the curb per collection day.
- When: between 6 PM and midnight the night before your collection day.
- Metal or rigid plastic items go out the night before your recycling day; everything else goes out the night before your bulk trash ("large item") day.
- No appointments: pick-up appointments are no longer offered and cannot be scheduled.
- Exceptions: mattresses must be bagged, appliances with CFC/Freon need an appointment, and electronics can't go in the trash.
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Which day to set it out
A bulk item is anything too large to fit into a bin or bag. Look up the collection schedule for your address (linked from the NYC311 Bulk Item Disposal page), then put items at the curb between 6 PM and midnight the night before the matching day.
- Items that are all metal, mostly metal, or rigid plastic: the night before your recycling collection day.
- All other non-recyclable items: the night before your bulk trash ("large item") collection day, not your recycling day.
- DSNY says large items made of wood or wood composites (fiberboard, particle board) go out on your trash-only day.
Set-out rules
- Do not put items in the street, let them extend in front of another property, or block pedestrians.
- Items left on private property are "unserviceable" and can't be picked up. Put them in the designated area (curb or alley).
- Take furniture apart if possible. DSNY says to bundle smaller pieces together and tape or tie them with twine.
- Glass furniture, windows, and mirrors can't be recycled. Set them out with trash; tape large glass items and double-bag broken glass.
- If you have a lot of items, spread them over several collection days.
- If items have bed bugs, you must put a sign on them saying so.
- DSNY suggests removing doors from large appliances such as washing machines and ovens, but it isn't required.
Recyclable bulk items (set out on recycling day)
- Barbecue grills, bicycles, and large plastic toys
- Metal bed frames and bedsprings
- Washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, and ovens
- Radiators, boilers, and porcelain-coated metal bathtubs and sinks
- Water heaters of 50 gallons or less (empty)
- Pipes no longer than 4 feet
- Lawnmowers, generators, and snowblowers under 100 pounds, with the fuel emptied
Non-recyclable bulk items (set out on bulk trash day)
- Sofas (remove metal frames from sofa beds and pullouts and set them out with metal recyclables)
- Furniture that isn't mostly metal or rigid plastic, including wood tables
- Toilets and artificial trees
- Rugs, cut to 4-foot widths and tied into bundles no higher than 2 feet
- Processed wood with nails removed, tied in bundles no more than 2 feet high and 4 feet long
Items with special rules
- Mattresses and box springs must be sealed in a plastic bag and set out on your trash day. The City doesn't provide bags.
- Appliances with CFCs or Freon (air conditioners, dehumidifiers, freezers, refrigerators, water coolers) won't be collected without an appointment. Book one on NYC311's CFC and Freon Removal page.
- Electronics such as TVs, monitors, computers, printers, and game consoles can't go in the trash. See NYC311's Electronics Disposal page.
- Fire extinguishers and compressed gas cylinders (propane, helium, CO2, oxygen) can't go in trash or recycling. Return or exchange them where sold, use a scrap metal dealer, or bring them to a SAFE Disposal Event.
- Water heaters over 50 gallons require a private carter.
Renovation debris
If you do repair work in your own home without hiring anyone, you can put out up to six items (bags or bundles) of home repair debris. Major construction or renovation projects need a dumpster from a private trash removal service, and contractors should arrange private disposal of their debris. Work on income properties (three-family homes and larger) must also be handled by a private carter or dumpster.
Too big for the truck?
If an item won't fit in a regular collection truck, break it into pieces. If it can't be broken down, you may need a private removal service. To ask whether DSNY can collect an item, send a description and its dimensions to customerservice@dsny.nyc.gov. There are no longer public dumps in New York City, and the Special Waste Disposal sites don't accept bulk items.
FAQ
Is bulk trash pickup free in NYC?
Yes. NYC311 says you can get free curbside removal of bulk items from residential buildings.
Do I need to schedule a bulk pickup in NYC?
No. Pick-up appointments are no longer offered and cannot be scheduled. The exception is appliances containing CFCs or Freon, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, which need a CFC removal appointment.
How many bulk items can I put out in NYC?
Up to 6 items at the curb per collection day. If you have more, spread them over several collection days.
When should I put bulk items out in NYC?
Between 6 PM and midnight the night before your collection day. Metal or rigid plastic items go out the night before your recycling day; other items go out the night before your bulk trash (large item) day.
Is there a dump I can take bulk items to in NYC?
No. NYC311 says there are no longer public dumps in New York City, and Special Waste Disposal sites don't accept bulk items.
What is the fine for setting out a mattress wrong?
The official pages differ. NYC311's Bulk Item Disposal page says an improperly disposed mattress may result in a $100 fine, while DSNY's Furniture, Mattresses, and Rugs page says you may be fined up to $300. Either way, an unbagged mattress won't be collected.
Official sources
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026. Rules change — confirm with the official source before you set anything out.