A public resource guide
Every legitimate way to get rid of furniture, appliances, mattresses, and bulk waste in Fresno, including Operation Clean Up (the free annual curbside bulk pickup, 10 cubic yards), the three-cart SB 1383 system, free curbside used motor oil pickup, Free Dump Days, and what to do when paid hauling isn't an option.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Fresno runs a tightly structured but generous system: Operation Clean Up (OCU) is the free once-a-year curbside bulk pickup, up to 10 cubic yards per household (about two pickup truck loads), with neighborhood-based scheduled dates throughout the year. Items must be set out by 6 AM, no more than 7 days before your assigned date, earlier than that triggers code enforcement. Fresno's three-cart system follows California SB 1383 mandatory composting (food scraps in green organics cart). Plus a unique container-in-view ordinance (Fresno Municipal Code 6-205(10)) requiring carts to be stored out of street view after collection, violators receive citations. Free curbside used motor oil pickup is available, and the City hosts Free Dump Days at the Cedar Avenue Recycling and Transfer Station throughout the year. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
Start here
What brings you to this page today?
On this page
Fresno residents have free annual Operation Clean Up curbside pickup (10 cubic yards), free weekly trash, free weekly recycling (no A/B alternation, weekly), free weekly organics composting (mandatory under SB 1383), free curbside used motor oil pickup (2 gallons/week), free Free Dump Days at CARTS, free 24/7 medication kiosks at police/fire stations, and donation pickup programs. The City of Fresno Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD) serves approximately 119,000 residential customers (single-family homes through fourplexes) within city limits.
Operation Clean Up (OCU), Free Annual Bulk Pickup
Free, 1x per yearOperation Clean Up is Fresno's free annual curbside bulk pickup. Each SWMD-served household receives ONE scheduled OCU collection per year, with up to 10 cubic yards of accepted items (about two loaded pickup truck beds). Use the lookup tool at appdev.fresno.gov/cleanup with your City utility account number to find your scheduled date.
Eligibility: SWMD residential customers (single-family through fourplex) with curbside service.
Frequency: 1 scheduled OCU collection per year, neighborhood-based date.
Volume limit: 10 cubic yards (~2 pickup truck beds).
How to find your date: Use the OCU Schedule Lookup at appdev.fresno.gov/cleanup (you'll need your City utility account number) or call 3-1-1 (or 559-621-2489).
Set-out: By 6:00 AM on scheduled day. NOT MORE than 7 days before, earlier triggers code enforcement.
Two piles required: Yard Clipping Pile (tree limbs, lumber, grass clippings, leaves, brush) and Trash Pile (everything else). Mixing causes pickup rejection.
Prep rules: Tape windows/mirrors with duct tape. Cut tree prunings, lumber, metal/plastic pipe into 4-foot pieces. Disassemble swing sets, garage doors, etc. Concrete/rock/brick/dirt limited to 2 wheelbarrow loads combined.
NOT accepted: Items brought from other locations, service is for the residence only.
Free Curbside Used Motor Oil Pickup (2 gal/week)
Free, weeklySWMD provides free curbside pickup of used motor oil and oil filters for single-family residential customers. Limit: 2 gallons per week. Call (559) 621-6888 to request free program containers, then place next to your carts on collection day.
What's accepted: Used motor oil, oil filters.
Limit: 2 gallons per week.
How to start: Call (559) 621-6888 for free program containers.
How to set out: Place containers next to your carts on collection day.
Cost: Free.
Free Dump Days at CARTS
Free, periodicThe City hosts Free Dump Days at the Cedar Avenue Recycling and Transfer Station (CARTS) throughout the year, where residents can dispose of bulky waste at no charge AND pick up free mulch. Dates rotate, check fresno.gov for current event dates.
Where: Cedar Avenue Recycling and Transfer Station (CARTS).
Frequency: Multiple events per year. Check fresno.gov for current dates.
What's accepted: Most household bulk items. Confirm event-specific accepted items.
Bonus: Free mulch available at events.
Cost: Free for Fresno residents.
Mandatory Free Curbside Organics (SB 1383)
Free, mandatoryUnder California SB 1383 (effective January 2022), Fresno residents are required to separate food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste from garbage and place them in the green organics cart for weekly collection. Free with City service. Failure to comply can result in contamination fines.
What's required: All food scraps (including meat, dairy, bones), food-soiled paper, all yard waste.
Frequency: Weekly collection on the same day as garbage and recycling.
Cost: Free with City trash service.
Why mandatory: California SB 1383 requires 75% reduction in organic waste landfill disposal by 2025.
Contamination fines: Prohibited items in your green or blue cart can result in a notice or fine on your City utility bill. Fresno spends ~$500,000/year removing contamination.
Medication Kiosks (24/7)
Free, 24/7Secure medication drop-off kiosks (white/blue for medications, red for sharps) are located near select Fresno police and fire stations. Open 24/7. Free for residents. Visit fresno.gov/hazardous-waste for a list of kiosk locations.
What's accepted: Unused medications (white/blue kiosks). Sharps and needles (red kiosks).
Hours: 24/7.
Locations: Near select Fresno police and fire stations. Find list at fresno.gov/hazardous-waste.
Cost: Free for Fresno residents.
Freemoval (partner-community pickups)
FreeFreemoval is a social impact program that subsidizes free junk removal pickups in partner communities, typically affordable housing properties and select municipal partnerships. Fresno partner expansion is in progress for 2026.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager whether your building participates.
Status in Fresno: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Donation-pickup programs
FreeFresno-area nonprofits offer free pickup for items in usable condition. The City explicitly recommends donation as the first option before scheduling Operation Clean Up.
The Salvation Army: Free pickup of clothing, furniture, household items. Schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Habitat for Humanity Fresno County ReStore: Free pickup for furniture, appliances, building materials.
Goodwill Industries Central California: Donation pickup for larger items in the Fresno metro area.
St. Vincent de Paul Fresno: Free pickup of furniture, clothing, household items for families in need.
SWMD service area. The City of Fresno Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD) serves homes UP TO FOURPLEXES with City of Fresno logo carts. Apartment buildings with 5+ units use private waste haulers, not SWMD. To verify: if you have a gray, green, or blue cart with the City of Fresno logo, you receive SWMD service. If your building uses a shared dumpster or bin, your service is through a private hauler (often Mid Valley Disposal in Fresno County or WM).
Three-cart system, weekly collection. Every SWMD-served customer receives three carts: gray for trash (64 or 96 gallons), blue for single-stream recycling (64 or 96 gallons), green for organics including yard waste AND food scraps under SB 1383 (64 or 96 gallons). All three are collected weekly on the same day. Unlike many California cities, Fresno does not use an A/B biweekly rotation for residential recycling.
Container-in-view ordinance (FMC 6-205(10)). Fresno adopted this regulation over 15 years ago to encourage proper cart storage and beautify neighborhoods. Carts must be put away and out of view from the street after they are serviced. Carts can be placed out for collection after 6:00 PM the day before, must be out by 5:30 AM on collection day, and must be placed out of view by 8:00 PM on collection day. If storing in front yard, a 4-foot high enclosure or shrubbery must screen the carts. Customers leaving carts out beyond approved hours are subject to citations and fines.
SB 1383 mandatory composting. California state law requires residents to separate food scraps, yard debris, and food-soiled paper from trash and recycling. Food scraps go in the green organics cart, NOT the gray trash cart. Compostable yard waste in the green organics cart cannot include plastic bags (even compostable ones), unless approved.
Operation Clean Up details. SWMD provides Operation Clean Up (OCU), free annual curbside bulk pickup for all SWMD-served residential customers, one scheduled OCU per year. Items must be set out by 6:00 AM on scheduled day, NOT earlier than 7 days before. Items placed earlier are referred to code enforcement for possible citation and/or legal action. Customers must separate materials into TWO piles: Yard Clipping Pile and Trash Pile. Mixing causes pickup rejection.
OCU prep rules. Tape windows/mirrors with duct tape (reduces glass debris). Cut tree prunings, lumber, metal/plastic pipe into 4-foot pieces. Disassemble swing sets, garage doors, etc. Limit concrete/rock/brick/dirt to 2 combined wheelbarrow loads. Do NOT place trash/debris brought from other locations. Service is limited to resident(s) of the property only.
Recycling rules. Single-stream, all recyclables in the blue cart together. Loose, never bagged. Empty, rinse, and dry all containers. Remove lids from bottles and jars. Flatten cardboard. Fresno accepts plastics #1 through #5 (NOT #6/Styrofoam).
Holiday delays. Three holidays cause one-day delays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day (Dec 25), New Year's Day (Jan 1). When these fall on a weekday, collection is delayed for the rest of the week. Tuesday and Wednesday customers are not affected by these holidays. Collection is normal on MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day.
Skip Fee. If a customer is late placing carts at the curb and reports a missed service, a Skip Fee may be assessed. First two incidents are no charge. Third incident and each thereafter (in a fiscal year, July-June) is $25.60.
Disability special handling. SWMD provides special handling for single-family residential customers with disabilities or medical conditions who have no one residing in the home to assist. Drivers will roll out carts and return them. Multi-family properties don't qualify.
Find your collection day. Use the address lookup at fresno.gov, call 3-1-1 (within city limits) or (559) 621-2489. Recycling Hotline: (559) 621-1111.
Customer service. Solid Waste Management Division: (559) 621-6888. 3-1-1 or (559) 621-2489 for general questions. Recycling Hotline: (559) 621-1111. fresno.gov/publicutilities/trash-disposal-recycling.
Fresno's 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-specific 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 before scheduling if you're unsure, pickups that find unacceptable items will leave them behind.
For households who need bulk pickup outside their once-a-year OCU, exceed the 10 cubic yard OCU limit, can't wait for their scheduled OCU date (often months away), live in 5+ unit buildings without SWMD service, or need same-day or in-home pickup, paid options are available. Note: Fresno's once-a-year OCU is dramatically less flexible than the year-round programs in cities like Albuquerque or Las Vegas, if you have ongoing disposal needs, plan around your annual OCU date.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For households who need same-day or in-home pickup, can't wait for their annual OCU date, exceed the 10 cubic yard OCU limit, live in larger apartment buildings without SWMD service, or have items SWMD won't accept, LoadUp offers professional removal in Fresno with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What's included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes, crew handles in-home pickup.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
When this beats waiting: Move-outs, real estate timelines, multi-load cleanouts, items SWMD won't accept, off-cycle pickups when next OCU date is months away.
Other paid services in Fresno: 1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Junk King, comparison-shop for larger jobs.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book a Fresno pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Different items have different rules in Fresno. Here's a quick reference for the most common things people need to dispose of.
Fresno residents can dispose of household hazardous waste through Fresno County HHW programs and periodic special events. The City does NOT accept hazardous waste in regular carts, placing HHW in your gray, blue, or green cart can result in contamination fines on your City utility bill. Several retailers also offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics. Secure medication drop-off kiosks (white/blue for medications, red for sharps) are located near select Fresno police and fire stations, open 24/7. Visit fresno.gov/hazardous-waste for a list of kiosk locations.
To report illegal dumping in Fresno, call 3-1-1 (within city limits) or 559-621-2489. Reports can also be filed via the FresGO mobile app. Include the location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible. Fresno actively investigates dumping reports through code enforcement. Note: items placed at the curb more than 7 days before scheduled Operation Clean Up are considered code violations and may result in citation and/or legal action. If you're considering dumping because your annual OCU is months away, please use a paid hauler, LoadUp pickups starting around $80 are dramatically cheaper than illegal dumping fines under California law.
Is there really free junk removal in Fresno?
Yes, SWMD-served residents (single-family through fourplex with City of Fresno carts) get one FREE Operation Clean Up per year, up to 10 cubic yards of curbside bulk pickup at a neighborhood-scheduled date. Plus: free weekly recycling, free weekly organics composting (mandatory under SB 1383), free curbside used motor oil pickup (2 gal/week, call for free containers), free Free Dump Days at CARTS multiple times per year, free 24/7 medication and sharps kiosks. Donation pickup through Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, Goodwill, and St. Vincent de Paul is also free for usable items. Note: OCU is ONCE PER YEAR, if you need ongoing disposal capacity, plan around your scheduled date or use the Free Dump Days throughout the year.
How does Operation Clean Up actually work?
OCU is the City's free annual curbside bulk pickup. Each SWMD-served household has ONE scheduled date per year, assigned by neighborhood (your date stays the same year over year). Use the OCU Schedule Lookup at appdev.fresno.gov/cleanup with your City utility account number to find your specific date. On your scheduled date, you can place up to 10 cubic yards of accepted items (about two pickup truck loads) at the curb by 6 AM. Critical: items must be in TWO SEPARATE PILES, Yard Clipping Pile (limbs, lumber, grass, leaves, brush) AND Trash Pile (everything else). Mixing causes pickup rejection. Don't set items out earlier than 7 days before your date, earlier triggers code enforcement.
Why is the once-a-year limit so much less generous than other cities?
Many major U.S. cities offer monthly or quarterly bulk pickup, and Albuquerque even runs an unlimited year-round program. Fresno's once-a-year structure is partly historical (the program has run this way for decades) and partly economic (the City prioritizes weekly trash, recycling, and SB 1383-mandated organics over additional bulk runs). The 10-cubic-yard volume per pickup is generous, roughly two pickup truck loads, which mitigates the frequency limitation if you can plan ahead. For off-cycle needs: use the Free Dump Days at CARTS (multiple per year), donate to Habitat ReStore or Salvation Army (free pickup), or hire a paid hauler. Many residents schedule major cleanouts to align with their annual OCU date.
How do I qualify for Freemoval in Fresno?
Freemoval works through partner communities, typically affordable housing operators, public housing authorities, and select municipal partnerships. We’re actively expanding partnerships in Fresno through 2026. If your property is part of the program, your property manager will provide a booking code. If you operate housing or work in a city department in Fresno, contact us to discuss adding your community.
What is the container-in-view ordinance and how does it affect me?
Fresno Municipal Code 6-205(10), adopted over 15 years ago, requires all trash and recycling carts to be put away and out of view from the street after they are serviced. The reasoning: carts left out create unsightly neighborhoods, can be safety hazards, and can be stolen. Practical rules: carts can go out for collection after 6 PM the day before, must be at the curb by 5:30 AM on collection day, must be removed and put out of view by 8 PM on collection day. If you store carts in your front yard, you need a 4-foot enclosure or shrubbery to screen them from the street. Violators are subject to citations and fines. The ordinance is enforced, not as aggressively as some cities, but consistent neighbors who leave carts at the curb continuously will be cited.
Can I really compost meat and dairy in my green cart?
Yes, California SB 1383 (effective January 1, 2022) requires all food scraps to go in the green organics cart, including meat, fish, bones, shellfish, and dairy. Fresno's organics processing facilities are designed to handle these items. Use a paper bag or wrap food scraps in newspaper to keep the bin clean, never plastic bags, even ones labeled compostable. The cart is collected weekly. Putting food scraps in the gray trash cart violates state law and Fresno can assess contamination fines on your City utility bill if prohibited items are found in the wrong cart.
How do I report illegal dumping in Fresno?
Call 3-1-1 (within city limits) or 559-621-2489. Reports can also be filed via the FresGO mobile app. Include location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible.
Is this page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated May 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
Freemoval is actively onboarding Fresno partner properties through 2026. Reach out to prioritize your community.
Start a partnership conversation