311
Request Large Item Pickup; collected free on your regular collection day
24 hours
maximum time items can sit out before collection
4
tires per request at the curb
Every route for carpet and rugs in New Orleans, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full New Orleans guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in New Orleans, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
New Orleans bulky waste pickup by 311 request: carpet and rugs
Free, with a step firstRolled carpet is bulky waste by 311 request.
Who qualifies: Residential addresses with city sanitation service (collected by Richard's Disposal, IV Waste, or Waste Pro depending on area). Small businesses are not eligible.
How to schedule: Submit a Request Large Item Pickup through 311 (nola311.org or dial 311). Collection comes on your regular solid waste day, free. White goods, sofas, mattresses, up to 4 tires, and e-waste are all requested the same way.
Limits: Up to 4 tires per request. No published volume cap for ordinary household bulky items.
Set-out: At the curb no more than 24 hours before your scheduled collection day (after 4 p.m. the evening before, out by 4 a.m. in early-collection areas). Setting bulky waste out earlier can be fined.
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 New Orleans: 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 New Orleans: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
New Orleans residents have free bulky waste pickup by request through 311, plus twice-weekly trash collection. The French Quarter and Downtown Development District get daily collection 365 days a year. This page walks through every option in order from free to paid, with the specific rules that apply across the city’s three sanitation contractors.
The New Orleans rule for carpet and rugs: Rolled carpet is bulky waste by 311 request.
Program basics: Up to 4 tires per request. No published volume cap for ordinary household bulky items. At the curb no more than 24 hours before your scheduled collection day (after 4 p.m. the evening before, out by 4 a.m. in early-collection areas). Setting bulky waste out earlier can be fined.
What the city will not take: Construction debris, household hazardous waste (HHW Day at the Recycling Drop-Off Center), and anything from a business.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of New Orleans: Trash Collection (bulky waste), City of New Orleans: Recycling Drop-Off Center. 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 need same-week service, have items the city won’t take, or live in apartment buildings over 4 units, LoadUp offers professional removal in New Orleans 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 New Orleans with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside New Orleans proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete New Orleans 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 New Orleans: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does New Orleans pick up carpet and rugs for free?
Yes, rolled, after a 311 request.
How much does paid carpet and rugs removal cost in New Orleans?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single carpet pickup in New Orleans starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-week service, have items the city won’t take, or live in apartment buildings over 4 units, LoadUp offers professional removal in New Orleans 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 New Orleans page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full New Orleans guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
