United States

Bulk Trash & Large-Item Pickup in San Francisco

Confirm when large items are collected, what needs an appointment, and how to prepare your pickup.

San Francisco, CaliforniaLocal timezone: America/Los_Angeles

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San Francisco, California skyline

San Francisco's Recology Bulky Item Recycling program offers free curbside appointments for up to 10 items twice per year for smaller residential accounts. Schedule online, tag the pile with a "RECOLOGY" sign, follow the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. set-out window, and note that multi-family buildings receive one pickup per unit per year. Report illegal dumping through SF311.

Service type

appointment

By appointment only with no fixed day. Appointments occur Monday-Friday. Single-family buildings with five units or fewer receive two pickups per calendar year at no extra charge. Multi-family buildings with six units or more receive one pickup per unit per year at no extra charge. Up to 10 items per appointment. Place items curbside after 6:00 PM the day before and by 6:00 AM the day of pickup; attach a visible sign reading "RECOLOGY". Cancellations must be made by 12:00 PM on the prior business day.

Limits

Maximum 10 items per appointment; items over 100 pounds are not accepted. Single-family accounts with five units or fewer receive two free pickups per year; multi-family buildings with six units or more receive one free pickup per unit per year; unused pickups do not carry over. Residents may combine both single-family pickups for up to 20 items depending on availability. Only active residential accounts are eligible. Set items out during the required window and label the pile with a "RECOLOGY" sign. Cancellations must be made by 12 PM the business day before.

Fees: Included in residential collection rates for the allotted annual pickups (no additional charge). Additional pickups beyond the annual allotment are not currently available; alternatives include self-hauling to the SF Transfer Station (fees apply), donating usable items, or hiring a private hauler.

Appointment or request

Submit requests before placing items curbside.

Illegal dumping

Report illegal dumping via SF311 online or app, or by phone: dial 311 within San Francisco, 415-701-2311 outside the city, TTY 711 or 415-701-2323.

Report abandoned piles or improper dumping immediately.

Always confirm with the latest official notices or municipal postings before making plans.

Place items on the curb no more than 24 hours in advance and separate metal or hazardous items as required by your municipality.

What to put at the curb

Accepted items
Furniture, Mattresses and box springs, Residential appliances (washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators), Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, peripherals), Kitchen appliances (microwaves, small appliances), Bathroom fixtures (toilets drained and boxed or wrapped per guidelines), Clean textiles (bagged or boxed for reuse), Garage items and scrap metal, Display cases
Not accepted
Household garbage (use black cart service), Recyclables such as bottles, cans, cardboard, or paper (use blue cart), Yard or green waste (use green cart; no tree trunks), Concrete, plaster, dirt, sand, or other construction and demolition debris, Treated wood waste, Auto parts and tires, Oversized items such as pianos, tree trunks, cast iron tubs, or anything over 100 pounds, Hazardous waste (paints, pesticides, chemicals, cleaning agents), Commercial appliances
Holiday shifts
Recology provides uninterrupted service on most holidays; there is no collection on December 25 or January 1. If a scheduled appointment falls on those dates, service typically shifts to the following business day. Confirm details with Recology when scheduling.

Official service info

Source: Bulky Items - Recology San Francisco

Last verified on .

Pickup request template

Appointment request email

Hello Public Works, I'd like to arrange a bulk trash pickup at my address in San Francisco, California. Your service is listed as "appointment" with this schedule: By appointment only with no fixed day. Appointments occur Monday-Friday. Single-family buildings with five units or fewer receive two pickups per calendar year at no extra charge. Multi-family buildings with six units or more receive one pickup per unit per year at no extra charge. Up to 10 items per appointment. Place items curbside after 6:00 PM the day before and by 6:00 AM the day of pickup; attach a visible sign reading "RECOLOGY". Cancellations must be made by 12:00 PM on the prior business day.. Accepted items: Furniture, Mattresses and box springs, Residential appliances (washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators), Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, peripherals), Kitchen appliances (microwaves, small appliances), Bathroom fixtures (toilets drained and boxed or wrapped per guidelines), Clean textiles (bagged or boxed for reuse), Garage items and scrap metal, Display cases. Not accepted: Household garbage (use black cart service), Recyclables such as bottles, cans, cardboard, or paper (use blue cart), Yard or green waste (use green cart; no tree trunks), Concrete, plaster, dirt, sand, or other construction and demolition debris, Treated wood waste, Auto parts and tires, Oversized items such as pianos, tree trunks, cast iron tubs, or anything over 100 pounds, Hazardous waste (paints, pesticides, chemicals, cleaning agents), Commercial appliances. Please confirm the next available pickup window and any paperwork needed. Reference: https://www.cityrules.info/bulk-trash/united-states/california/san-francisco

Frequently asked questions

Answers are summarized from the city bylaw for quick reference. For the full context, follow the official links below.

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