A public resource guide
Every legitimate way to get rid of furniture, appliances, mattresses, and bulk waste in Philadelphia, including the new Residential Bulk Collection Program restored in September 2024 after a decade-long absence, six Sanitation Convenience Centers, donation programs, and what to do when paid hauling isn't an option.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Philadelphia's bulk pickup landscape changed materially in 2024. After more than a decade with no curbside bulk service, the city restored the program in September 2024 as part of Mayor Cherelle Parker's One Philly, United City Cleaning Initiative. Combined with the six Sanitation Convenience Centers and the new twice-a-week trash pilot, Philly residents have more options today than they've had in years. This page walks through every one.
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Philadelphia residents have free Residential Bulk Collection (by appointment, restored September 2024), six free Sanitation Convenience Centers, and donation pickup programs. The City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation serves single-family homes and multi-family dwellings up to 6 units.
Residential Bulk Collection (restored 2024)
Free with servicePhiladelphia restored curbside bulk pickup in September 2024 after stopping the service more than a decade earlier. The new program is by appointment only, with up to 4 items per appointment for eligible residential properties. The program is part of the One Philly, United City Cleaning Initiative and is intended specifically to reduce illegal dumping.
Eligibility: Single-family homes and multi-family dwellings with up to 6 units. Larger apartments, condos, and commercial properties must use private haulers.
Limit: Up to 4 bulk items per appointment.
How to schedule: Schedule online at phila.gov/bulky-trash-pickup or call 311 (215-686-8686 from outside the city). Appointments are first-come, first-served and can have 3-week wait times.
What's eligible: Refrigerators (empty, doors removed), appliances (ACs, water heaters, microwaves), household furniture, large toys, flat-screen TVs, passenger car tires (rims removed).
What's NOT eligible: Household trash, mattresses (require special preparation), hazardous materials, auto parts, construction or demolition debris.
Set-out rules: Place items at your normal collection point evening before pickup (no earlier than 5 PM Fall/Winter, 7 PM Spring/Summer). Curbside by 7 AM on pickup day. Label items with the 4-letter Pickup Code from your appointment confirmation email.
Sanitation Convenience Centers
Free for residentsPhiladelphia operates six Sanitation Convenience Centers where residents can drop off oversized trash, yard waste, recycling, and other items. These were the only legal option for bulk disposal during the decade when curbside bulk was unavailable.
Number of locations: Six centers spread across the city. Locations and hours at phila.gov.
What's accepted: Oversized trash, yard waste, recycling, electronics, mattresses, large items.
What you need: Proof of Philadelphia residency.
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. Philadelphia partner expansion is in progress for 2026.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager whether your building participates.
Status in Philadelphia: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Donation-pickup programs
FreePhiladelphia-area nonprofits offer free pickup for items in usable condition.
The Salvation Army: Free pickup of clothing, furniture, household items. Schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Multiple Philadelphia-area locations. Pickup for furniture, appliances, building materials.
Goodwill of Greater Philadelphia: Donation pickup for larger items.
Weekly trash collection. Philadelphia provides weekly curbside trash pickup to over 510,000 households across the city, collecting more than 610,000 tons of trash and 80,000 tons of recyclables annually. Find your collection day at phila.gov.
Twice-a-week trash pilot launched January 2026. On January 5, 2026, the City launched a twice-a-week trash collection pilot program targeting areas with high rates of illegal dumping. The pilot is part of Mayor Cherelle Parker's initiative to reduce litter and improve sanitation in high-density neighborhoods.
Eligibility. Municipal collection serves single-family homes and multi-family dwellings up to 6 units. Properties with retail stores or professional offices may qualify. Properties with more than 6 units (excluding qualified condos and co-ops) are excluded. Manufacturers, wholesalers, and properties with private collection are also excluded.
Container rules. Trash must be in metal/non-corrodible cans no larger than 32 gallons, or substantial leak-proof sealed plastic bags (30-32 gallons). Two bags may substitute for one can. No bag or container may weigh more than 40 pounds when filled. Don't put trash or recyclables in plastic bags or cardboard boxes for recycling.
Set-out times. Earliest set-out is between 6 PM and 8 PM the night before collection day, depending on time of year. Center City has separate rules.
Why bulk pickup matters here. Philadelphia stopped curbside bulk pickup in the early 2010s. For more than a decade, residents had to transport bulk items to one of six Sanitation Convenience Centers, impossible for anyone without a vehicle large enough to haul a couch or refrigerator. Cleanup activists called the gap a major driver of illegal dumping. The September 2024 restoration of bulk pickup was a direct response.
Philadelphia'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 can't wait the 3+ weeks for a bulk pickup appointment, have items the city won't take (mattresses, construction debris), or live in larger multi-family buildings, paid options are available.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For households who can't wait for the next available bulk appointment, have items the city won't take, or live in apartment buildings over 6 units, LoadUp offers professional removal in Philadelphia 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.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
Other paid services in Philadelphia: 1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks Hauling Junk, We Love Junk, 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 Philadelphia pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Different items have different rules in Philadelphia. Here's a quick reference for the most common things people need to dispose of.
Philadelphia hosts periodic Household Hazardous Waste collection events for items like paint, batteries, household chemicals, and pesticides. Check phila.gov for current dates and locations. Several retailers offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications.
To report illegal dumping in Philadelphia, call 311 (215-686-8686 from outside the city) or report online at phila.gov. Include the location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible. Reducing illegal dumping is the explicit goal of the One Philly, United City Cleaning Initiative, which restored bulk pickup in 2024 specifically to give residents a legal alternative. If you're considering dumping because you can't afford a haul, please use the Residential Bulk Collection (free, by appointment) or one of the six Sanitation Convenience Centers, nearly every situation has a legal alternative.
Is there really free junk removal in Philadelphia?
Yes, Philadelphia restored free curbside bulk pickup in September 2024 after stopping the service more than a decade earlier. The new Residential Bulk Collection Program allows up to 4 items per appointment for residents in single-family homes and multi-family buildings up to 6 units. The city also operates six Sanitation Convenience Centers where residents can drop off bulk items, recycling, and yard waste free with proof of residency. Donation pickup through Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, and Goodwill is also free for usable items.
How do I schedule a bulk pickup in Philadelphia?
Schedule online at phila.gov/bulky-trash-pickup or call 311 (215-686-8686 from outside the city). Appointments are first-come, first-served, and demand has been high, expect waits of 2-3+ weeks. After scheduling, you’ll receive an email with a 4-letter Pickup Code and Service Request Number. Label items with your Pickup Code using a marker or sheet of paper and tape. Place items curbside the evening before pickup, and ensure they’re out by 7 AM on pickup day.
Why aren't mattresses eligible for the new bulk pickup program?
Mattresses are explicitly excluded from Philadelphia’s new Residential Bulk Collection program. The city has not provided a detailed reason, but mattress disposal is generally complex due to bedbug concerns and the difficulty of proper disposal. Options for mattresses: take to a Sanitation Convenience Center (free with proof of residency), donate to Salvation Army or Habitat ReStore if in good condition, or use a paid hauler like LoadUp.
How do I qualify for Freemoval in Philadelphia?
Freemoval works through partner communities, typically affordable housing operators, public housing authorities, and select municipal partnerships. We’re actively expanding partnerships in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia, contact us to discuss adding your community.
I live in an apartment building with more than 6 units. What are my options?
Philadelphia’s municipal collection (including the new Residential Bulk Collection program) serves single-family homes and multi-family dwellings up to 6 units. Larger apartment buildings, condominiums, and commercial properties must use private haulers. Your building’s contracted hauler may or may not include bulk service, ask your property manager. This gap is exactly why Freemoval exists: residents of multi-family low-income housing often have the fewest free options.
What is the twice-a-week trash pilot?
On January 5, 2026, Philadelphia launched a twice-a-week trash collection pilot in select neighborhoods with high rates of illegal dumping. The pilot is part of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s initiative to reduce litter in high-density neighborhoods. If you’re in the pilot zone, your collection schedule includes a second weekly day, check phila.gov/streetsmart for your specific schedule.
How do I report illegal dumping in Philadelphia?
Call 311 or 215-686-8686 from outside the city. Reports can also be filed at phila.gov. Include location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible. Reducing illegal dumping is the explicit goal of the One Philly, United City Cleaning Initiative.
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 Philadelphia partner properties through 2026. Reach out to prioritize your community.
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