Junk removal in Fort Wayne, IN.

Fort Wayne, Indiana (#83 nationally) is the largest city in Northeast Indiana and operates direct municipal Solid Waste Department service through Public Works. Distinctive features: bulk pickup is INCLUDED in the monthly solid waste fee (no per-pickup charges), requires scheduling at least 2 BUSINESS days ahead via 311, and mattresses/box springs MUST be completely wrapped in plastic (bags available at retail stores). Freon appliances are NOT picked up by the City — require a private hauler. The City uses a one-cart single-stream recycling system on A/B alternating weeks. Routes changed in December 2024 — use the Garbage & Recycling Lookup at garbagerecyclelookup.cityoffortwayne.org. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Fort Wayne residents.

Free options at a glance

Fort Wayne’s bulk pickup is included in your monthly solid waste fee — no per-pickup charges. Combined with A/B week recycling and quarterly Saturday Tox-Away HHW events, residents have solid pathways for most disposal needs.

Bulk pickup (call 311, 2+ business days ahead)

Fort Wayne’s bulk pickup is appointment-only — you can’t just put items at the curb. The City requires advance scheduling through 311.

How to schedule:

· Online: fortwayne.thesmartcity311.com

· In the 311 portal, choose “Solid Waste” then “Bulk Trash Pickup”

· Or call 311

· Or use the 311 Mobile Responsive App

Lead time: At least 2 business days ahead of your garbage collection day.

Examples:

· Wednesday collection day: schedule by Monday

· Tuesday collection day: schedule by Friday (Sat/Sun aren’t business days)

· Monday collection day: schedule by Thursday

· Friday collection day: schedule by Wednesday

Set-out: Items at curb on scheduled collection day (same as garbage cart).

Cost: Included in monthly solid waste fee. No per-pickup charges.

What’s typically accepted: Furniture (sofas, dressers, tables), mattresses (must be wrapped — see below), most household items.

What’s NOT picked up: Freon appliances (see separate section), hazardous waste, tires (limited), construction debris.

Mattress wrapping rule

Fort Wayne has a critical rule for mattress and box spring disposal: they MUST be completely wrapped in plastic.

Why: Bedbug prevention. Wrapping mattresses prevents bedbug spread during collection and transport.

Where to get plastic mattress bags:

· Most retail stores (hardware stores, big-box stores)

· Mattress retailers when buying a new mattress

· Moving supply stores

Process:

1. Buy a mattress bag (typically $5-$15)

2. Slide the mattress or box spring inside

3. Tape or seal the bag completely

4. Schedule a bulk pickup at least 2 business days ahead via 311

5. Place at curb on scheduled day

Unwrapped mattresses will NOT be picked up. The crew will leave them at the curb, which can trigger code enforcement.

Freon appliances (private hauler required)

Fort Wayne does NOT pick up Freon-containing appliances. These require a private hauler at resident expense.

Items requiring private hauler:

· Refrigerators

· Freezers

· Air conditioners (window units and central)

· Water coolers

· Dehumidifiers

Why: Freon (and other refrigerants) require certified handling under the federal Clean Air Act. The City’s bulk crews aren’t certified to handle refrigerant.

Options for Freon appliance disposal:

· Retailer haul-away: Most appliance retailers (Best Buy, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Sears, etc.) will haul away the old appliance when delivering a new one. Often free or low-cost.

· Private junk removal: LoadUp, 1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks (paid)

· HVAC technician: Pay for refrigerant removal certification ($30-$75), then dispose at landfill or recycle the empty appliance

· Donation: Working appliances can be donated to Habitat ReStore or other nonprofits (free pickup for usable items)

Working appliances: If your refrigerator or freezer still works, donating is often the best option. Habitat ReStore Greater Fort Wayne offers free pickup for working appliances.

Weekly garbage, A/B week recycling

Fort Wayne’s garbage is collected weekly. Recycling is every other week (A/B alternating). Routes changed in December 2024 — always verify your current schedule.

Find your schedule: Use the official Garbage & Recycling Lookup at garbagerecyclelookup.cityoffortwayne.org. This is the most accurate tool. Or call 311.

Set-out timing:

· Cart at curb or alley by 6:00 AM on collection day

· Don’t place out earlier than noon the day before pickup

· Remove from curb by noon the day after collection

Cart positioning:

· Wheels facing the house

· Placed a few feet from other carts, mailboxes, vehicles, and obstacles

Trash rules:

· Trash should be bagged before placing in cart

· Fill your cart first (don’t leave bags beside cart)

· Cart lid should close completely

Recycling rules (single-stream):

· All recyclables go in same cart, no sorting

· Items empty, clean, dry

· Remove lids and caps (place separately)

· Flatten cardboard to save space

· Do NOT bag recyclables — place loose

· NO plastic bags inside

Accepted recyclables:

· Cardboard (corrugated, flattened, cut into 3-foot pieces or smaller)

· Cereal boxes, shoe boxes, paperboard, shipping boxes

· Plastics #1-#7: bottles, tubs, jugs, containers (rinsed, lids removed)

· Glass bottles and jars (clear, brown, green, blue, rinsed, lids removed)

· Aluminum cans (rinsed)

· Steel/tin cans (rinsed)

· Clean aluminum foil and tins/trays

A/B week schedule: The annual recycling calendar uses WHITE NUMBERS for A Week, BLUE NUMBERS for B Week. Look up your address to determine which schedule applies. Routes changed in December 2024 so this is especially important — old schedules may be wrong.

Holiday delays: Garbage and recycling collection will run one day behind for the week when holidays fall on a weekday. 2026 holidays causing delays: January 19 (MLK Day) and other major holidays.

HHW: Saturday Tox-Away events

Allen County Solid Waste hosts Saturday Tox-Away events for free HHW disposal. These are scheduled throughout the year (typically 6 events) for residents to bring hazardous waste.

2026 Saturday Tox-Away event dates:

· April 6

· May 4

· June 1

· August 3

· September 7

· October 12

· NO July event

Hours: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM

Entrance: Enter via Fort Recovery Road from Lima Road.

What’s accepted at Tox-Away events:

· Automotive products (oil, fluids, antifreeze)

· Batteries

· Fertilizers

· Household cleaners

· Mercury items

· Fluorescent bulbs

· Paints and stains

· Pesticides and herbicides

· Propane tanks

· Pool chemicals

· Gasoline

· Solvents

· Other HHW

NOT accepted at Tox-Away events: Electronics.

Find complete current list and any fees: Visit acwastewatcher.org.

Electronics disposal: Fort Wayne discontinued its city Electronics Recycling Program in 2022. Current options:

· Best Buy (accepts many electronics for recycling, free)

· Earthworks Recycling (1904 E. Broadway Ave, 260-534-1638)

· Inland ReTech (7203 E. Nora Ave)

· Recycle Techs (6810 E. Appleway Blvd)

· Goodwill Industries (multiple Fort Wayne locations)

· Call 311 for current options.

Fluorescent bulbs (free drop-off year-round): Many hardware stores accept fluorescent bulbs (up to 8 feet), CFLs, and LED bulbs (which contain mercury and must not go in the trash). Call ahead to confirm.

Donation pickup, what gets accepted

Donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.

Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don’t work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call the program before scheduling.

Paid options

For Freon appliances (city doesn’t take), service that can’t wait 2+ business days, items requiring in-home loading, or large cleanouts, paid options are essential in Fort Wayne.

What to do, by item type

Reporting illegal dumping in Fort Wayne

Report illegal dumping to Fort Wayne 311 at fortwayne.thesmartcity311.com or call 311. For Indiana state environmental violations, contact the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). Active dumping in progress: call Fort Wayne Police non-emergency.

Photos with timestamps and license plate numbers significantly improve enforcement outcomes. See our complete illegal dumping guide for Indiana state penalty information.

Common questions