2x a month
Outside-the-Cart bulk collection on your regular day
10 cu yd
maximum pile, within 3 feet of the street
4
tires per home accepted at the curb
Every route for carpet and rugs in Memphis, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Memphis guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Memphis, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Memphis Outside-the-Cart bulk collection: carpet and rugs
FreeRolled carpet goes Outside-the-Cart within the pile limit.
Who qualifies: Homes with City of Memphis solid waste service (the city cart). Apartment complexes use private haulers.
How to schedule: No appointment for ordinary bulk. Outside-the-Cart collection runs twice a month on your regular collection day (weeks 1 and 3 or weeks 2 and 4 depending on your address; check memphistn.gov/solid-waste, the Memphis Curbside Collection app, or 311). The city asks you to call 311 so crews know items are out.
Limits: Bulky piles no more than 10 cubic yards, within 3 feet of the street. Up to 4 tires per home per collection.
Set-out: Within 3 feet of the street, away from mailboxes, parked cars, fences, trees, and low limbs, on your Outside-the-Cart week. Keep yard waste separate from other bulk so it can be composted.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Memphis: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering carpet and rugs, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Memphis: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
If you live in Memphis, your bulk pickup runs on a system the city calls Outside-the-Cart, twice-monthly collection on your regular trash day. This page walks through how it works, what gets accepted, and every other free or low-cost disposal option in Shelby County.
The Memphis rule for carpet and rugs: Rolled carpet goes Outside-the-Cart within the pile limit.
Program basics: Bulky piles no more than 10 cubic yards, within 3 feet of the street. Up to 4 tires per home per collection. Within 3 feet of the street, away from mailboxes, parked cars, fences, trees, and low limbs, on your Outside-the-Cart week. Keep yard waste separate from other bulk so it can be composted.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste (Shelby County facility at 6305 Haley Rd), construction debris from contractors, and roofing. Piles over 10 cubic yards are left.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Memphis Solid Waste: Household Garbage and Outside-the-Cart rules, City of Memphis: Solid Waste Convenience Center locations. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why carpet and rugs are different from ordinary bulk. The volume is the first surprise. Carpet rolls do not compress, and a whole house of carpet can be 500 to 1,000 pounds spread over 15 to 25 rolls. Bulk programs set item limits that a whole-house removal exceeds, so staged pickups or a hauler are often needed.
Three mistakes that get carpet and rugs left at the curb:
Paid options are for whole-house tear-outs that exceed bulk limits and for contractor-generated carpet, which residential bulk programs exclude.
Self-haul to a transfer station or recycler
$20 to $80Rolled carpet loads easily into a pickup or trailer. Transfer stations charge by weight; carpet recyclers charge a small per-pound fee or accept free where stewardship programs exist.
Weigh it in your head: about 0.5 pounds per square foot for carpet, 0.25 for padding.
LoadUp paid carpet pickup
$80+For households who can’t wait for the bi-monthly Outside-the-Cart cycle or live outside the City of Memphis service area, LoadUp offers professional removal in Memphis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your carpet. 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.
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 carpet pickup in Memphis with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Memphis proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Memphis junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national carpet and rugs disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Memphis: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Memphis pick up carpet and rugs for free?
Yes, rolled, on your Outside-the-Cart week.
How much does paid carpet and rugs removal cost in Memphis?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single carpet pickup in Memphis starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who can’t wait for the bi-monthly Outside-the-Cart cycle or live outside the City of Memphis service area, LoadUp offers professional removal in Memphis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
Can I put old carpet out with bulk trash?
Yes in most cities, if it is cut into rolls under the program’s length limit (usually 4 to 6 feet), rolled tightly, and tied. Padding should be rolled separately. Contractor-generated carpet is usually excluded. Check your city’s rule below.
How do I cut and roll carpet for pickup?
Flip a section face down and cut strips 3 to 4 feet wide from the back with a utility knife and a straight edge. Roll each strip tightly and tie it in two places with twine or wrap it with tape. Keep rolls under about 50 pounds.
Is carpet recyclable?
Yes, though access varies. Nylon carpet is the most recyclable, and padding is widely recycled into new padding. California’s CARE program provides free drop-off statewide; elsewhere, carpet reclamation facilities and some flooring retailers accept it, sometimes for a small fee.
What do I do with the tack strips?
Pry them up with a flat bar, stack them nail side in, wrap tightly in cardboard, and tape. Put the bundle in the trash cart or with bulk, clearly wrapped so no one gets stuck.
Is this Memphis page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Memphis guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
