2 + 2
free junk appointments (Feb to Oct) plus 2 appliance and e-waste appointments a year
4x4x9 ft
maximum junk pile, out by 6 a.m., no earlier than 24 hours before
1 free
dump coupon per household per year for the Sacramento Recycling and Transfer Station
Every route for carpet and rugs in Sacramento, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Sacramento guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Sacramento, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Sacramento Household Junk and Appliance pickups: carpet and rugs
FreeOld carpeting is specifically mentioned as junk pickup material. Roll it within the pile size.
Who qualifies: City of Sacramento residential solid waste customers. Tenants in buildings of 5 or more units with commercial haulers go through their property manager.
How to schedule: Two separate free programs, each 2 appointments per calendar year, booked through 311 (916-264-5011), the Sac311 app, or sac311.org. Household Junk Pickup runs February through October for furniture, mattresses, and yard waste. Appliance and E-Waste Pickup runs year-round for up to 2 appliances and 4 electronics per appointment. Extra pickups cost a minimum of about $39.
Limits: Junk piles no larger than 4 by 4 by 9 feet. Up to 4 tires without rims per junk appointment. Appliances and e-waste cannot go in the junk pile.
Set-out: At the curb no earlier than 24 hours before and by 6 a.m. on the appointment day; early set-outs can be fined. Appliances go at the end of the driveway, visible. Cancel at least 2 business days ahead or the appointment counts against you.
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 Sacramento: 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 Sacramento: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Sacramento is uniquely structured: the City of Sacramento handles trash, recycling, and organics for residents inside city limits, while Sacramento County handles unincorporated areas and sets up its own one-bulky-pickup-per-12-months service. The result is two different rule sets depending on your address. City residents get 1 free Household Junk Pickup per year (February through October only) plus the annual Free Dump Day event in May and an annual Free Dump Coupon mailed each June. California’s SB 1383 mandatory composting law applies citywide, food scraps must go in the green organics cart, not the gray trash cart. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Sacramento rule for carpet and rugs: Old carpeting is specifically mentioned as junk pickup material. Roll it within the pile size.
Program basics: Junk piles no larger than 4 by 4 by 9 feet. Up to 4 tires without rims per junk appointment. Appliances and e-waste cannot go in the junk pile. At the curb no earlier than 24 hours before and by 6 a.m. on the appointment day; early set-outs can be fined. Appliances go at the end of the driveway, visible. Cancel at least 2 business days ahead or the appointment counts against you.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste, liquids and paint, tires on rims, and construction debris. Junk appointments pause November through January for leaf season.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Sacramento Recycling and Solid Waste: Household Junk Pickup, City of Sacramento: Appliance and E-Waste Pickup, City of Sacramento: Household Junk Pickup guidelines (PDF). 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 already used their free annual options, need winter pickup (when Household Junk Pickup is unavailable), can’t wait for next year’s free service, live in apartment buildings without included service, or have items the city won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Sacramento 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 Sacramento with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Sacramento proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Sacramento 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 Sacramento: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Sacramento pick up carpet and rugs for free?
Yes, rolled, with a junk appointment.
How much does paid carpet and rugs removal cost in Sacramento?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single carpet pickup in Sacramento starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who already used their free annual options, need winter pickup (when Household Junk Pickup is unavailable), can’t wait for next year’s free service, live in apartment buildings without included service, or have items the city won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Sacramento 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 Sacramento page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Sacramento guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
