A public resource guide
Every legitimate way to get rid of furniture, appliances, mattresses, and bulk waste in Phoenix, including the new appointment-based bulk trash system that launched September 2024, four free pickups per calendar year, the 27th Avenue Transfer Station, and what to do when paid hauling isn't an option.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Phoenix transformed its bulk pickup system in September 2024, replacing the old quarterly schedule with an appointment-based model. Each household now gets up to 4 free bulk pickups per calendar year (each up to 10 cubic yards), scheduled online or by calling 602-262-6251. Combined with the 27th Avenue Transfer Station, the appliance recycling program, and free annual refrigerant appliance drop-off, Phoenix residents have solid options, if they plan ahead. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
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Phoenix residents have appointment-based bulk pickup (4 free appointments per year, launched September 2024), free annual refrigerant appliance drop-off, the 27th Avenue Transfer Station, and donation pickup programs. The City of Phoenix Public Works Department serves residential customers within Phoenix city limits. Surrounding cities (Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler, Gilbert, Peoria) have their own separate programs.
Appointment-based bulk trash pickup (4x per year)
Free, 4x/yearPhoenix replaced its old quarterly schedule with an appointment-based system in September 2024. Each customer can schedule up to 4 bulk trash collections per calendar year. Each appointment accommodates up to 10 cubic yards of material (about 17 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft). Schedule online via the City's portal or call 602-262-6251.
Eligibility: City of Phoenix residential customers. Surrounding cities (Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, etc.) have separate programs.
Annual limit: 4 appointments per calendar year. Resets January 1.
How to schedule: Online portal at phoenix.gov or call 602-262-6251. Must be scheduled at least 3 business days in advance. Appointments available within weeks (up to 6 months ahead).
Cancellation: Cancel at least 3 business days before scheduled date or it counts toward your annual limit.
Volume per pickup: 10 cubic yards maximum (17 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft). Bigger than that = use a second appointment or self-haul.
Set-out timing: Place items out no sooner than 7 days before scheduled date. Items must be at curb by 5:30 AM (collection starts 6 AM). Setting out earlier is a city violation.
Placement rules: Single pile, parallel to street, within 5 feet of curb. At least 5 feet from any fixed object (cars, mailboxes, fire hydrants, water meters). Do not block sidewalks or alleys.
Holiday blackouts: No appointments around Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, or 7 days after.
Free annual refrigerant appliance drop-off
Free, 1x/yearPhoenix offers one free refrigerant appliance drop-off per year per household at a city transfer station. This is critical because refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners are NOT accepted in regular bulk trash pickup, refrigerant must be removed by a certified technician.
What's accepted: Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers (anything containing refrigerant).
Limit: 1 free drop-off per year per household. Additional refrigerant appliances or curbside pickup requests may include city fees billed to your services account.
Where: City transfer stations, 27th Avenue and 3060 S. 27th Ave, plus North Gateway. Check phoenix.gov for current locations.
Federal compliance: EPA Section 608 requires certified handling of refrigerants, the city handles this for you at the transfer station.
27th Avenue Transfer Station self-haul
Tipping feesThe 27th Avenue Transfer Station and other city transfer stations accept materials beyond what bulk pickup handles, construction debris, large volumes, items between scheduled appointments. Tipping fees vary by load size.
Where: 27th Avenue Solid Waste Management Facility, 3060 S. 27th Ave, Phoenix.
What's accepted: Most household waste, bulky items, construction debris, refrigerant appliances (1st free per year).
Cost: Tipping fees vary. Typical small-vehicle drop-offs $25-$60.
Useful for: Items between appointments, items beyond 10 cubic yard limit, items the city won't take.
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. Phoenix partner expansion is in progress for 2026.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager whether your building participates.
Status in Phoenix: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Donation-pickup programs
FreePhoenix-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 Phoenix-area locations. Pickup for furniture, appliances, building materials.
Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona: Donation pickup for larger items in the Phoenix metro area.
Major change September 2024. Phoenix replaced its old quarterly bulk trash schedule with an appointment-based system in fall 2024. Under the old system, your neighborhood had a fixed bulk pickup zone with predetermined dates. Now you schedule when you actually have items. For 2024 rollout, customers were limited to one appointment. Starting January 2025, each household gets up to 4 bulk pickups per calendar year.
Weekly trash and recycling. Phoenix collects residential trash and recycling weekly under City Code Chapter 27. Containers must be at the curb by 5:30 AM on collection day, with at least 15 feet of clearance from obstacles. Recycling bins (blue) collect paper, cardboard, plastics, metal cans, glass.
Strict bulk trash rules. City Code Section 27-22 governs bulk trash placement. Common violations: placing items more than 7 days before pickup, placing items within 5 feet of fixed objects, exceeding 10 cubic yards, placing items on sidewalks or in streets, mixing in unacceptable materials. Violations can result in additional fees billed to your city services account.
What's NOT accepted in bulk pickup. Hazardous waste, large appliances with refrigerants (separate program), more than 25 pounds of construction or demolition debris generated by a resident (any contractor-generated debris is excluded), cement, brick, asphalt, stones, dirt, lead-acid batteries, infectious or medical waste, vehicle/equipment parts over 20 pounds, motor vehicle tires (any type).
Yard waste in bulk pickup. Securely bag and tie all grass, leaves, weeds, twigs, and hedge clippings before placing out for bulk trash. Cut tree trimmings to less than 12 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length.
Community-wide collections. Some HOAs, block watches, and neighborhood organizations select community-wide bulk trash collection days. If your neighborhood has a predetermined schedule, you may not need to schedule individually. Check the list at phoenix.gov.
Phoenix vs. surrounding cities. Phoenix bulk trash rules apply only inside Phoenix city limits. Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler, Gilbert, Peoria, and other Maricopa County cities each have their own programs. Don't assume Phoenix rules apply elsewhere.
Extreme heat considerations. Phoenix's summer heat (110+ degrees regularly) creates real problems for items sitting curbside. Mattresses, upholstered furniture, and food-contaminated items can become unsafe or attract pests within days. The 7-day pre-set-out window is the upper limit, not a recommendation, set out closer to pickup whenever possible.
Phoenix'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 exceed 4 free appointments per year, can't wait weeks for the next slot, exceed the 10 cubic yard pickup limit, or have items the city excludes (construction debris, hazardous, tires, refrigerant appliances beyond the 1 free per year), paid options are available.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For households who can't wait for an appointment slot, exceed the 10 cubic yard limit, need items the city won't take, or have urgent timelines (move-outs, real estate closings), LoadUp offers professional removal in Phoenix 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 Phoenix: 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 Phoenix pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Different items have different rules in Phoenix. Here's a quick reference for the most common things people need to dispose of.
Phoenix hosts periodic Household Hazardous Waste collection events for residents. Check phoenix.gov for current dates and locations. 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, and most pharmacies for unused medications. Lead-acid batteries (car batteries) can be returned to AutoZone, O'Reilly, or any auto parts store for a small core refund. Putting hazardous waste in regular trash violates city ordinance and can result in fines.
To report illegal dumping in Phoenix, call 602-262-7251 or use phoenix.gov/illegaldumping. Reports can also be filed via the Phoenix at Your Service app. Include the location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible. Phoenix takes illegal dumping seriously, called “midnight dumping” or “open dumping” in Arizona, with active code enforcement in alleys, vacant lots, and open desert areas. If you're considering dumping because you can't get a bulk appointment fast enough, please use a paid hauler, same-day service starts around $80, dramatically less than dumping fines or potential abatement charges.
Is there really free junk removal in Phoenix?
Yes, Phoenix offers up to 4 free bulk trash pickups per calendar year through its appointment-based system that launched September 2024. Each appointment accommodates up to 10 cubic yards (about 17 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft). Schedule online or call 602-262-6251 at least 3 business days in advance. The city also offers 1 free refrigerant appliance drop-off per year at city transfer stations. Donation pickup through Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, and Goodwill is also free for usable items.
How is Phoenix's new bulk pickup different from the old system?
Before September 2024, Phoenix ran bulk pickup on a quarterly schedule with predetermined dates by neighborhood zone. You waited for your zone's pickup week regardless of need. The new system lets you schedule when you actually have items to dispose of. For 2024 rollout, customers were limited to 1 appointment. Starting January 2025, each household gets up to 4 appointments per year. The change brought more flexibility but also more rules: you must schedule at least 3 business days ahead, items can't go out more than 7 days before pickup, and there are blackout periods around major holidays.
How do I dispose of a refrigerator in Phoenix?
Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers contain refrigerant and are NOT accepted in regular bulk pickup. Phoenix offers 1 free drop-off per year per household at a city transfer station, this is the cheapest legal option. Additional refrigerant appliances or curbside pickup requests may include city fees billed to your services account. Many appliance retailers also offer free haul-away with delivery of a replacement, ask before purchase. Federal EPA Section 608 requires certified refrigerant handling, which the city or retailer handles.
How do I qualify for Freemoval in Phoenix?
Freemoval works through partner communities, typically affordable housing operators, public housing authorities, and select municipal partnerships. We’re actively expanding partnerships in Phoenix 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 Phoenix, contact us to discuss adding your community.
I live in Mesa/Scottsdale/Tempe/etc. Do Phoenix rules apply?
No. Phoenix bulk trash rules apply only inside Phoenix city limits. Surrounding Maricopa County cities each have their own programs with different rules: Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler, Gilbert, and Peoria all run separate systems. Some still use quarterly schedules; others have moved to appointments. Check your specific city’s website. The Phoenix metro is one of the most fragmented bulk-pickup landscapes in the country, rules can change at the next street if you cross a city border.
What if I exceed 4 appointments per year?
After 4 appointments, you’re out for the year, appointments reset January 1. Options after that: (1) Self-haul to a city transfer station (tipping fees apply, usually $25-$60 for small loads). (2) Hire a paid hauler (LoadUp starts around $80; comparison shop). (3) Donate usable items through Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, or Goodwill (free pickup). For some HOA neighborhoods, community-wide collection days may also be available outside individual appointments.
How do I report illegal dumping in Phoenix?
Call 602-262-7251 or use phoenix.gov/illegaldumping. Reports can also be filed via the Phoenix at Your Service app. Include location, description of dumped material, and a photo if possible. Phoenix takes illegal dumping (called “midnight dumping” or “open dumping”) seriously, with active code enforcement.
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 Phoenix partner properties through 2026. Reach out to prioritize your community.
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