A public resource guide
1 free bulky item pickup per unit, per calendar month for 1-4 unit properties (call 651-266-6101, label each item “Bulky”), unlimited free mattress recycling via Second Chance Recycling (separate program), and Ramsey County HHW and yard waste sites.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Saint Paul, Minnesota (#68 nationally) operates one of the most generous bulk pickup programs in the country. Starting April 2025: every household with 1–4 units gets one free bulky item pickup per unit, per calendar month, included with regular garbage service. Additional items cost $30 each. The City coordinates collection through a consortium of private haulers under contract with FCC Environmental (April 1, 2025 onward); each address is assigned to a specific hauler. Recycling is funded through Ramsey County property taxes. The annual 2026 recycling fee is $172.75 per unit (1–4 unit properties). Mattresses are recycled separately and unlimited at no charge by Second Chance Recycling. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Saint Paul residents.
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Saint Paul residents have several free disposal pathways. The monthly bulky item program is the primary path for furniture and most appliances. Mattresses are unlimited and free through a separate program. Ramsey County yard waste sites provide free drop-off year-round. The Ramsey County Environmental Center handles HHW.
Monthly bulky item pickup
1 free per unit, per monthSaint Paul residents at 1-4 unit properties get 1 free bulky item pickup per unit, per calendar month, included with regular garbage service. Items must be labeled with the word "Bulky" before setting out.
Eligibility: All households with 1-4 units (single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes). Apartment buildings with 5+ units are NOT covered.
How to schedule: Call 651-266-6101 or use the online request form at stpaul.gov/bulky-items at least 2 business days before your garbage collection day.
Set-out: Items at curb on your scheduled garbage collection day. Label each item with the word "Bulky" using tape or a sign so the crew identifies it correctly.
Annual electronics/appliance limit: Up to 3 total appliances and/or electronics picked up per unit, per year (electronics may have additional fees).
Additional items same month: $30 per bulky item (plus tax) beyond the monthly free allowance.
Important: Items set out without prior scheduling may not be collected. All items must be emptied of food and liquids.
Unlimited free mattress recycling
Free, unlimited annuallyA separate company recycles mattresses for Saint Paul residents at no charge. Unlimited number per year. Mattresses don’t count against your monthly bulky item allowance.
Provider: Second Chance Recycling.
How to schedule: Visit stpaul.gov for current scheduling information, or call 651-266-6101.
Why this matters: Mattresses recycled this way are processed for steel, foam, fabric, and wood components. The unlimited free service is unusually generous — most cities cap mattress disposal or charge per item.
Curbside trash and recycling
Recycling included; trash by quarterly billSaint Paul coordinates collection through FCC Environmental and a consortium of haulers. Each address is assigned to a specific hauler. Garbage is billed quarterly by the City Assessments Office; recycling is billed through Ramsey County property taxes.
2026 recycling fee: $172.75 per unit for 1-4 unit properties; $87.69 per unit for 5+ unit properties (billed annually via property tax).
Garbage billing: Quarterly by the City Assessments Office. Cart sizes range from 30-gallon to 96-gallon with corresponding rates.
Set-out: Carts at curb by 6:00 AM. Place 3 feet apart from each other and other objects.
Find your hauler and day: Use the official address map at stpaul.gov/garbage-recycling or call 651-266-6101.
Recycling rules: Single-sort — all recyclables in one cart together. Place items LOOSE (do not bag). Flatten cardboard. Extra recycling can go in paper bags or cardboard boxes next to cart.
Ramsey County yard waste sites
Free for residentsRamsey County operates 7 free yard waste drop-off sites for residents. Many also offer free compost and mulch to take home. Saint Paul does not require curbside yard waste service for most residents.
Sites accepting trees: Arden Hills, Frank and Sims, Midway, and White Bear Township.
Find current locations and hours: Visit ramseycountymn.gov.
Optional curbside subscription: $160/year (64-gallon yard waste cart + 8 compostable bags or bundles weekly). 2026 enrollment deadline was January 31; new subscriptions closed for 2026. One-time pickup: $4.25 per bag or bundle (call 651-266-6101).
Yard waste season: April 13 through November 13, 2026 (weather permitting). Branches max 4 ft long, 6 in diameter, tied in bundles. Yard waste must be in compostable bags or tied bundles.
Ramsey County Environmental Center (HHW)
Free for residentsRamsey County operates a year-round HHW disposal facility for residents. Free for paint, batteries, motor oil, electronics, and other hazardous items.
What’s accepted: Paint (latex and oil-based), automotive fluids, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, electronics, pesticides, pool chemicals, sharps in containers.
Find current location and hours: Visit ramseycountymn.gov.
Required: Proof of Ramsey County residency.
Community food scraps drop-off
Free, 24/7 accessSaint Paul operates several community food scraps drop-off sites available 24/7 at no cost. The right path for residents who don’t have backyard composting.
Key locations: Como Park, Highland Park, and Union Park.
Also: All Ramsey County yard waste sites accept food scraps.
What’s accepted: Fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, coffee grounds, food-soiled paper.
Donation pickup
Free for usable itemsThe Twin Cities have a strong nonprofit network for usable furniture and household goods. The right path for items in good working condition.
Habitat for Humanity Twin Cities ReStore: Free pickup for furniture, appliances, and building materials. Multiple Saint Paul/Minneapolis locations.
Salvation Army Twin Cities: Schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Goodwill Easter Seals Minnesota: Multiple Saint Paul drop-off locations.
Bridging Inc. and Catholic Charities Twin Cities: 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. Twin Cities partner expansion is in progress.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager whether your building participates.
Status in Saint Paul: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Saint Paul’s bulky item program is genuinely generous: every household at 1-4 unit properties gets one free bulky item pickup per unit, per calendar month. A duplex gets 2 monthly free pickups (one per unit); a fourplex gets 4. The program changed in April 2025 from the old policy of 2-3 pickups per year.
How to schedule:
· Phone: 651-266-6101
· Online: stpaul.gov/bulky-items
· Schedule at least 2 business days before your garbage collection day
Set-out: Items at curb on your scheduled garbage collection day. Label each item with the word "Bulky" — tape a sign or write directly on the item with marker. Crews use the label to identify your scheduled item.
Annual appliance/electronics limit: Up to 3 total appliances and/or electronics picked up per unit, per year. This is separate from the monthly bulky allowance — it caps electronic items specifically. Some electronics may carry additional fees.
Additional items same month: If you need more than your monthly free pickup, additional items cost $30 per bulky item (plus tax). Multiple items can be scheduled together in one pickup.
What works as bulky: Furniture (couches, mattresses, dressers, tables, chairs, bed frames), small to medium appliances, exercise equipment.
Mattresses are SEPARATE: Mattresses are picked up unlimited at no charge by Second Chance Recycling and don’t count against your monthly bulky allowance. See the next section.
Apartments (5+ units): The City does not coordinate collection for properties with 5+ units. Curbside pickup may be available through your property’s private hauler. Contact your landlord. The 1/unit/month bulky benefit does not apply.
Items must be emptied: All items must be emptied of food and liquids before set-out.
Items set out without scheduling: Items at the curb without prior scheduling may not be collected, and may trigger code enforcement.
Saint Paul partners with Second Chance Recycling to provide free, unlimited mattress recycling for residents. This is unusually generous — most cities cap mattress disposal at 1-4 per year or charge per item.
What’s accepted: Mattresses, box springs, futons.
How to schedule: Visit stpaul.gov for current scheduling information, or call 651-266-6101.
Why this exists: Mattresses are bulky and contain valuable recyclable components: steel springs (recycled into new steel), foam (carpet padding, insulation), fabric (industrial reuse), and wood frames (mulch). Diverting mattresses from landfills saves significant volume.
Mattresses don’t count toward bulky: Use the bulky pickup for furniture and appliances; use the mattress recycling for mattresses. Both are free for 1-4 unit households.
Saint Paul transitioned to a new contract with FCC Environmental on April 1, 2025. Each address is assigned to a specific hauler within the FCC consortium. Customer service for all city collection: 651-266-6101.
Find your hauler and collection day: Use the official address map at stpaul.gov/garbage-recycling or call 651-266-6101.
Set-out: Carts at curb by 6:00 AM on your collection day. Place carts 3 feet apart from each other and other objects.
Garbage billing: Quarterly by the City Assessments Office. Cart sizes from 30-gallon to 96-gallon with rates by size.
Recycling billing: Annual fee through Ramsey County property taxes. 2026 fee: $172.75 per unit for 1-4 unit properties; $87.69 per unit for 5+ unit properties.
Recycling rules: Single-sort — all recyclables in one cart together. Place items LOOSE (do not bag). Flatten cardboard. Extra recycling can go in paper bags or cardboard boxes next to cart at no charge.
What goes in the recycling cart: Paper, cardboard (flattened), magazines, newsprint, aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and jugs (#1, #2, #5), cartons.
What does NOT go in the cart: Plastic bags, food waste, hazardous materials (batteries, syringes, medications, paint), electronics, yard waste, textiles.
Yard waste: Optional curbside subscription ($160/year for 64-gallon cart + 8 weekly bags) closed for 2026 enrollment after January 31. One-time pickups available at $4.25/bag (call 651-266-6101 at least 2 business days ahead). Free year-round drop-off at 7 Ramsey County yard waste sites.
Yard waste season: April 13 through November 13, 2026 (weather permitting). Branches max 4 ft, 6 in diameter, tied in bundles.
Holiday schedule: 6 holidays cause a 1-day delay in 2026: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, and Veterans’ Day are normal service days. Independence Day falls on Saturday in 2026 with no weekday impact. When a holiday falls on a weekday, your collection day shifts one day later for that week only.
Live tree collection: Live Christmas trees collected curbside January 2–15, 2026. Place tree next to cart (not inside), remove all decorations and stands. After January 15, free drop-off at Ramsey County yard waste sites that accept trees (Arden Hills, Frank and Sims, Midway, White Bear Township). Artificial trees must be scheduled as a bulky item.
Ramsey County operates the regional HHW facility for Saint Paul residents. Free with proof of county residency.
What’s accepted:
· Paint (latex and oil-based)
· Automotive fluids (motor oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid)
· Batteries (auto, household, lithium)
· Pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals
· Fluorescent bulbs and CFLs
· Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, printers)
· Sharps in approved containers
Find current locations and hours: Visit ramseycountymn.gov.
Best Buy: Best Buy stores accept most consumer electronics free at customer service for routine drop-off.
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 items beyond the monthly bulky allowance, large cleanouts, or households at 5+ unit buildings, paid options are available.
Additional bulky items ($30 each)
$30 + tax per itemIf you need to dispose of more than your monthly free bulky allowance, additional items can be scheduled at $30 per bulky item (plus tax). Schedule via 651-266-6101 or stpaul.gov/bulky-items.
Useful for: Move-out cleanouts, multiple piece sets, or estate work.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For Saint Paul households needing in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), or apartment residents at 5+ unit properties, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Twin Cities for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading from inside the home, hauling, and licensed disposal.
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, College Hunks Hauling Junk, and Junk King Twin Cities.
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 Saint Paul pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Report illegal dumping to Saint Paul Public Works at 651-266-6101 or via stpaul.gov. For active dumping in progress, call Saint Paul Police non-emergency.
For Minnesota state environmental violations, contact the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
Photos with timestamps and license plate numbers significantly improve enforcement outcomes. See our complete illegal dumping guide for Minnesota state penalty information and reporting best practices.
How does Saint Paul’s bulky item pickup work?
Starting April 2025, every household with 1-4 units gets one free bulky item pickup per unit, per calendar month, included with regular garbage service. Schedule by calling 651-266-6101 or via stpaul.gov/bulky-items at least 2 business days before your garbage collection day. Label each item with the word "Bulky" before set-out. Up to 3 appliances/electronics per unit per year. Additional items beyond the monthly allowance cost $30 each plus tax.
Do mattresses count against my monthly bulky pickup?
No. Mattresses are recycled separately and unlimited at no charge by Second Chance Recycling, a separate program from the monthly bulky pickup. So you can dispose of mattresses freely all year and still use your monthly bulky pickup for furniture and appliances. Schedule mattress pickup at stpaul.gov or by calling 651-266-6101."),
Why doesn’t my apartment building have city service?
The City does not coordinate garbage collection for property buildings with 5 or more units, so they cannot schedule pickup through the City. The monthly free bulky benefit applies only to 1-4 unit properties. Apartment residents should contact their landlord; curbside pickup may be available through the property's private hauler. Recycling fees are still billed via Ramsey County property tax at $87.69 per unit annually for 5+ unit properties."),
How are garbage and recycling billed?
Garbage is billed quarterly by the City Assessments Office, with rates depending on cart size (30-gallon to 96-gallon). Recycling is billed annually through Ramsey County property taxes: $172.75 per unit for 1-4 unit properties; $87.69 per unit for 5+ unit properties (2026 rates). When you move within Saint Paul, your recycling service fee automatically transfers to the new property owner."),
Where do I take electronics and HHW?
Electronics can go through the monthly bulky pickup (counts toward 3 appliances/electronics per unit per year, additional fees may apply) or to the Ramsey County Environmental Center, which is free for county residents. HHW (paint, batteries, motor oil, fluorescent bulbs, pesticides) goes to the Ramsey County Environmental Center. Best Buy also accepts most consumer electronics free at customer service. AutoZone, O'Reilly, and Advance Auto accept motor oil and batteries year-round."),
When can I get yard waste collected curbside?
Saint Paul's optional yard waste curbside subscription closed enrollment for 2026 on January 31. The cost was $160/year (64-gallon cart + 8 compostable bags or bundles weekly). One-time pickups are still available at $4.25 per bag or bundle (call 651-266-6101 at least 2 business days ahead). Free alternative: drop-off year-round at 7 Ramsey County yard waste sites. Yard waste season runs April 13 through November 13, 2026."),
How do I report illegal dumping in Saint Paul?
Call Saint Paul Public Works at 651-266-6101 or report through stpaul.gov. For Minnesota state environmental violations, contact the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Active dumping in progress: call Saint Paul 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, let us know.