A public resource guide
4 free WM transfer station trips per year (Commercial Row or Stead, 3 cubic yards each), 20 annual excess waste stickers, 1 free bulky item per visit at Lockwood Landfill (Mon–Sat), GrayMar Environmental HHW voucher mailed in July bills, and WM service on all federal holidays.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Reno, Nevada (#78 nationally) is served by Waste Management (WM) of Northern Nevada under exclusive franchise agreement, distinct from the Republic Services system that covers southern Nevada (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas). Reno residential customers receive 4 free trips per year to WM transfer stations (Commercial Row or Stead), with each trip good for one standard pickup truck load (3 cubic yards). 20 excess waste stickers are provided annually for overflow trash beyond cart capacity. Lockwood Landfill accepts one bulky item per household at no cost Monday–Saturday. WM provides service on all federal holidays in Reno (a key advantage). HHW is handled through GrayMar Environmental with annual vouchers mailed in July bills. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Reno residents.
Start here
What brings you to this page today?
On this page
Reno residents have several free disposal pathways bundled with their WM service. Free transfer station trips, excess waste stickers, and a free bulky-item allowance at Lockwood Landfill compensate for the lack of curbside bulk pickup. The HHW program runs through annual vouchers.
4 free transfer station trips per year
Free, 4/yearReno residential WM customers receive 4 free trips per year to either Commercial Row or Stead transfer station. Each trip is good for disposal of one standard pickup truck load (3 cubic yards) of material.
Eligibility: Active Reno WM residential account.
Required: Bring proof of Reno residency AND active WM account (recent bill, ID).
Volume per trip: One standard pickup truck load (~3 cubic yards).
Useful for: Move-out cleanouts, post-renovation debris, items beyond what fits in your weekly cart.
Tenants: Property owners can grant tenants free access at the Reno Transfer Stations. Form available at wm.com/reno.
20 excess waste stickers per year
Free, 20/yearReno residential WM customers receive 20 excess waste stickers annually. Use these for overflow trash that doesn’t fit in your cart on regular collection days. Items inside your cart are collected normally; sticker-tagged items beside the cart are also collected.
How it works: Affix one excess waste sticker per overflow bag (50 lbs max per bag) and place beside your cart by 6:00 AM on collection day.
Useful for: Holiday cleanouts, weekend project waste, occasional overflow.
Get more: Contact WM at 775-329-8822 if you need additional stickers (additional charges may apply).
Lockwood Landfill: 1 free bulky item
Free, 1 per householdLockwood Landfill accepts one bulky item per household at no cost Monday through Saturday. The right path for a single mattress, sofa, or large appliance when you’d rather self-haul than wait.
What counts as a bulky item: Mattress, sofa, refrigerator, washer/dryer, large household furniture (one item per visit).
Hours: Monday–Saturday. Closed Sundays.
Holiday closures: New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Nevada Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.
Required: Proof of WM residential account and Reno residency.
Excess items: Additional bulky items charged at standard tipping fees.
Weekly trash + bi-weekly recycling
Free with serviceWM collects weekly trash and bi-weekly single-stream recycling on the same day across a 6-zone system. Reno’s collection runs Monday through Saturday with collection starting as early as 6:00 AM.
Find your zone and day: Use the WM address lookup at wm.com/reno, the My WM mobile app, or call 775-329-8822.
Set-out: Carts at curb by 6:00 AM. Place wheels against curb, at least 3 feet from parked cars, mailboxes, and other obstacles.
Cart rules: Lid must close completely (overstuffed carts not collected). Trash must be bagged before placing in cart.
Recycling: Single-stream — all materials in blue-lidded cart. Empty, clean, dry, loose. No bags. Plastics #1 and #2 only (water bottles, milk jugs, detergent bottles, yogurt containers). Glass bottles and jars (all colors). Paper, cardboard, aluminum, steel cans.
Holiday advantage: When a holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collection continues as normal — WM provides service on all holidays in Reno. (Transfer stations and landfills do close for some holidays.)
HHW: GrayMar voucher program
Free, annual voucherWM partners with GrayMar Environmental to provide residential customers with HHW disposal. An annual voucher is mailed to Reno customers in July bills (Sparks and Washoe customers get theirs in May). Use it to dispose of paint, batteries, pesticides, and other items free.
What’s accepted via voucher: Paint (latex and oil-based), automotive fluids, batteries (auto, household, lithium), pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs.
How to use: Bring voucher and HHW items to GrayMar Environmental during open hours. Without voucher, paid disposal applies.
HERO Environmental: An alternative HHW handler in Reno. Standard fees apply.
Drop-off centers: Mixed Recycling Drop-off at 1391 E. Commercial Row, Reno (cardboard at 1100 E. Commercial Row). Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–3:00 PM.
Donation pickup
Free for usable itemsReno has a strong nonprofit network for usable furniture and household goods. The right path for items in good working condition.
Habitat for Humanity Truckee Meadows ReStore: Free pickup for furniture, appliances, and building materials.
Salvation Army Reno: Schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Goodwill Industries of Northern Nevada: Multiple Reno drop-off locations.
Community Services Agency, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada, and Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality (RISE): Local nonprofits accepting household goods for families in need.
Freemoval (partner-community pickups)
FreeFreemoval is a social impact program that subsidizes free junk removal pickups in partner communities, typically affordable housing properties. Northern Nevada partner expansion is in progress.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager whether your building participates.
Status in Reno: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Reno’s 4 free trips per year to WM transfer stations is one of the more generous self-haul allowances in the country. Each trip handles 3 cubic yards (~one full pickup truck bed).
Two transfer station locations:
· Commercial Row Transfer Station: Central Reno location
· Stead Transfer Station: North Reno/Stead area
What’s accepted: Most household waste, furniture, appliances (some refrigerant items may have special handling).
Required documentation:
· Proof of Reno residency (current utility bill or driver’s license)
· Active WM residential account
Tenant access: If you rent in Reno, your property owner can sign a Property Owner’s Permission to Tenant form authorizing your free transfer station access. Form available at wm.com/reno.
Holiday closures: Transfer stations are typically closed on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Check current hours at wm.com or call 775-329-8822.
Strategic use: Spread the 4 trips across the year — one per quarter handles most household needs. Save trips for big cleanouts (move-out, post-renovation, estate work).
In addition to the free transfer trips and free Lockwood bulky item, every Reno WM residential customer receives 20 excess waste stickers each year. These handle the routine overflow that doesn’t fit in your weekly cart.
How stickers work:
· Each sticker covers one bag of overflow trash (50 lbs max)
· Affix sticker to bag, place beside your cart by 6:00 AM on collection day
· Crews collect cart contents AND sticker-tagged bags on the same trip
What stickers don’t cover: Hazardous materials, electronics, large bulky items, construction debris, items that don’t fit in a bag.
Strategic use: Spread the 20 stickers across the year (~1.5 per month). Save them for holiday cleanups, weekend projects, or seasonal yard work overflow. After the 20 are used, additional bags can be tagged with paid stickers.
Need more stickers: Contact WM at 775-329-8822. Additional stickers may be available for purchase.
Lockwood Landfill is the regional disposal facility for Reno-area solid waste. The unique feature: one bulky item per household at no cost Monday through Saturday.
What counts as a bulky item (free): One mattress, sofa, large household appliance, dresser, or similar oversized item per household visit.
Hours:
· Monday–Saturday during regular landfill hours
· Closed Sundays
· Closed: New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Nevada Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
· Note: Lockwood Landfill closes for MORE holidays than transfer stations — including MLK Day and Nevada Day (Oct 31)
Required:
· Proof of Reno residency
· Active WM residential account
Beyond 1 free bulky: Additional items charged at standard tipping fees (per ton or per cubic yard, depending on item).
Strategic use: The free bulky item is a one-per-trip allowance, not a one-per-year limit. You can return for another free bulky item on a different day if you have multiple items spread across cleanouts.
Reno’s collection runs across 6 zones, with WM’s exclusive franchise covering the City of Reno and surrounding unincorporated areas of Washoe County. Customer service: 775-329-8822.
Find your collection day: Use the WM address lookup at wm.com/reno, the My WM mobile app (iOS/Android), or call 775-329-8822.
Set-out: Carts at curb by 6:00 AM. Wheels against curb. At least 3 feet from parked cars, mailboxes, and other obstacles.
Cart rules:
· Lid must close completely. Overstuffed carts will not be collected.
· Trash must be bagged before placing in cart (no loose trash).
· Only items inside the provided cart are collected during regular service (use stickers for overflow).
Trash: Weekly. Black or grey cart provided by WM.
Recycling (single-stream): Bi-weekly, same day as trash. Blue-lidded cart. All accepted materials together.
· Plastics: Bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs only — #1 and #2 plastics (water bottles, milk jugs, detergent containers, yogurt containers)
· Glass: Bottles and jars (all colors — clear, green, brown)
· Metal: Aluminum cans, tin/steel cans, clean aluminum foil, metal lids
· Paper/cardboard: Paper, magazines, mail, flattened cardboard. NEW: plastic and paper to-go cups now accepted.
Drop-off centers (when cart is full):
· Mixed Recycling Drop-off: 1391 E. Commercial Row, Reno
· Cardboard Drop-off: 1100 E. Commercial Row, Reno
· Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–3:00 PM
Holiday advantage: When a holiday falls on a weekday, WM provides trash and recycling collection on all holidays in Reno — this is genuinely unusual nationwide and a key advantage for residents. Transfer stations and landfills close for some holidays (see relevant sections), but curbside service continues.
Severe weather/equipment delays: In rare cases, collection may be delayed by one day. Sign up for WM notifications.
Missed pickups: Report within 24 hours by calling 775-329-8822 or through the My WM portal/app.
WM partners with GrayMar Environmental for residential HHW disposal. The voucher program is unusual and convenient: free disposal once per year for accumulated HHW items.
Voucher delivery:
· Reno customers: Voucher mailed in July bill
· Sparks & Washoe County customers: Voucher mailed in May bill
What’s accepted via voucher:
· Paint (latex and oil-based), paint thinner, solvents
· Automotive fluids (motor oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid)
· Batteries (auto, household, lithium)
· Pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals
· Fluorescent bulbs and CFLs
How to use: Bring voucher AND HHW items to GrayMar Environmental during open hours. Voucher covers one drop-off per year per household.
HERO Environmental: An alternative HHW disposal facility in Reno. Standard paid fees apply — useful if you’ve already used your annual voucher.
Best Buy: Best Buy stores in Reno accept most consumer electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, printers) free at customer service.
Auto parts stores: AutoZone, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Advance Auto accept used motor oil and lead-acid batteries free year-round.
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.
For volume beyond your 4 free transfer trips, items beyond your annual stickers and 1 free bulky, items not eligible for self-haul, or households needing in-home loading, paid options are available.
WM dumpster rental
Quote per projectFor larger bulk needs (full cleanouts, post-renovation, multi-room cleanouts), WM offers dumpster rental in various sizes. Call 775-329-8822 for a quote based on size and duration.
Useful for: Move-out cleanouts, multi-room renovations, estate work, large yard projects.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For Reno households needing in-home pickup, items beyond your free WM allowances, or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multi-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Reno-Sparks area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading from inside the home, 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: 1-800-Got-Junk and College Hunks Hauling Junk serve Reno-Sparks.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. 100% of round-ups fund subsidized pickups at standard market rates.
Book a Reno pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Report illegal dumping to Reno Code Enforcement or via the City of Reno website at reno.gov. For WM-related issues (missed pickups, cart problems), call 775-329-8822.
For Nevada state environmental violations, contact the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). Active dumping in progress: call Reno Police non-emergency.
Photos with timestamps and license plate numbers significantly improve enforcement outcomes. See our complete illegal dumping guide for Nevada state penalty information and reporting best practices.
How does Reno's free trash disposal work?
Reno residential WM customers receive 4 free trips per year to WM transfer stations (Commercial Row or Stead). Each trip is good for one standard pickup truck load (3 cubic yards) of material. Bring proof of Reno residency and active WM account. Additionally, Lockwood Landfill accepts one bulky item per household at no cost Monday through Saturday. Together with 20 annual excess waste stickers for overflow trash, this provides multiple free disposal pathways.
Does Reno have curbside bulk pickup?
Reno does not have curbside bulk pickup like many cities. Instead, WM provides several alternatives: 4 free transfer station trips per year (3 cubic yards each), 1 free bulky item per visit at Lockwood Landfill (Mon-Sat), and 20 excess waste stickers per year for overflow bagged trash. These free options replace traditional curbside bulk service. For curbside in-home loading, paid junk removal services like LoadUp are available.
How does the GrayMar HHW voucher work?
WM partners with GrayMar Environmental for residential HHW disposal. Reno customers receive an annual voucher mailed in July bills (Sparks and Washoe County customers get vouchers in May bills). The voucher covers free disposal of paint, batteries, pesticides, automotive fluids, fluorescent bulbs, and other HHW items. Bring the voucher and items to GrayMar during open hours. HERO Environmental is an alternative HHW handler with paid fees.
What goes in Reno's curbside recycling?
Reno's blue-lidded cart accepts: plastics (only #1 and #2 - bottles, jugs, jars, tubs); glass bottles and jars (all colors); metal (aluminum and steel cans, clean aluminum foil); paper; flattened cardboard; and now plastic and paper to-go cups. NOT accepted: plastic bags (return to grocery stores), plastics #3-#7, electronics (use Best Buy), HHW (use GrayMar). Recycling is bi-weekly on the same day as trash. Place items loose, no bags, lid closed.
Does WM really collect on holidays in Reno?
Yes. When a holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collection continues as normal -- WM provides service on all holidays in Reno. This is a key advantage for Reno residents. Just place carts at curb by 6:00 AM as usual. The exception: Transfer stations and Lockwood Landfill have modified or closed hours on some holidays. Lockwood Landfill specifically closes for New Year's Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Nevada Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Why is Reno different from Las Vegas/Henderson?
Reno is served by Waste Management (WM) of Northern Nevada under exclusive franchise, while southern Nevada (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas) is served by Republic Services. Each system has different rules: Reno offers 4 free transfer trips, 20 excess stickers, and 1 free Lockwood bulky item per visit. Southern Nevada offers bi-weekly automatic curbside bulk pickup with strict prep rules. Different recycling, different holiday policies, different HHW programs (GrayMar in north vs. rotating Wed-Sat in south).
How do I report illegal dumping in Reno?
Report illegal dumping to Reno Code Enforcement or via reno.gov. For WM issues (missed pickups, cart damage), call 775-329-8822. For Nevada state environmental violations, contact the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). Active dumping in progress: call Reno Police non-emergency. Photos with license plate numbers significantly improve enforcement.
Is this page maintained?
Yes. Last updated May 2026. If you find outdated information, please contact us.