Learn how to book free residential bulky item pickups (2 to 4 per year or unlimited), sort waste under SB 1383, and avoid steep illegal dumping penalties.
This guide is based on official regulations from CalRecycle and local municipal sanitation departments. Service details and allowances may vary by jurisdiction.
Select your county to check annual free pickup allowances, reservation methods (online, phone, app), and curbside guidelines.
Mattresses, bed frames, sofas, chairs, tables, refrigerators, washers/dryers, TVs/monitors, rolled carpets.
Construction/demolition debris (concrete, bricks), hazardous waste (paint, chemicals), auto parts, tires.
Place items curbside after 6:00 PM the night before or before 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day.
Search any household item to find the correct bin (Blue, Green, Black) and free disposal methods under SB 1383.
Schedule free county bulky item pickup or drop off free of charge at a certified Bye Bye Mattress facility.
Book free municipal bulky item curbside collection with your county waste hauler.
Requires CFC refrigerant removal; specify refrigerator during bulky pickup booking.
Schedule free bulky curbside pickup or recycle at a scrap metal facility.
Schedule free E-Waste bulky pickup or drop off free at certified e-waste bins (e.g. Best Buy).
Must be placed in the Green Organics Bin under California SB 1383 mandatory composting laws.
Place in the Green Organics Bin (no plastic bags; paper or BPI-certified compostable bags only).
Flatten and place inside the Blue Recycling Bin.
Empty, rinse, and place in Blue Recycling Bin (eligible for CRV cash redemption).
Rinse, remove lids, and place in Blue Recycling Bin.
Illegal in regular trash! Drop off free at county HHW collection centers or retail drop boxes (Home Depot).
Do not pour down drain or throw in trash. Return free to PaintCare drop-off locations or HHW facility.
Drop off free at certified auto parts centers (AutoZone, O'Reilly) or county oil recycling centers.
Contains mercury vapor. Safely transport and drop off free at a county HHW facility.
Non-recyclable in most municipal systems; place in Black Trash Bin.
Wrap securely in newspaper and place in Black Trash Bin.
Under California Penal Code § 374.3, dumping bulky items without a valid pickup reservation incurs fines starting at $250 up to $1,000+ and mandatory community service.
Obtain a reservation number first, then place items curbside on the designated night without blocking driveways or pedestrian walkways.
Do not dump large items next to shared dumpsters. Contact your property manager to arrange complex-wide bulky collection or individual pickup authorization.
Look up the full expansions and plain-language definitions of key abbreviations and legal terms used throughout our California guides.
A municipal service allowing residents to schedule free curbside collection for large household items (furniture, mattresses, appliances) that do not fit into standard trash bins.
California state climate law requiring all residents and businesses to separate food scraps and yard trimmings into green organics bins for composting.
California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, overseeing state waste reduction, recycling programs, and beverage container redemption (CRV).
Toxic or flammable residential products (paint, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, motor oil) that are strictly prohibited from regular trash bins and must be taken to county drop-off facilities.
Discarded electronic devices (TVs, monitors, computers) containing hazardous heavy metals, mandated by California law to be recycled through designated collection centers.
Municipal rules governing the placement of bulky items and bins along the street curb without obstructing sidewalks, driveways, or street traffic.