12
free Special Collections per account per calendar year
8
large items (or 25 bags and bundles) per collection, out by 6 a.m.
5
tires up to 16 inches per pickup, kept separate
Every route for a hot tub in Long Beach, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Long Beach guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Long Beach, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Long Beach Special Collection: hot tubs
Free, with a step firstFlag it as oversized when scheduling; a drained, broken-down tub may be accepted. Most people hire a crew.
Who qualifies: Every City-serviced refuse account in Long Beach. Buildings served by private haulers arrange bulky pickups with their hauler.
How to schedule: Request online at lbcity.info/specialcollection or call 562-570-2876. Each account gets 12 free Special Collections per calendar year, each up to 8 large items or 25 bags, bundles, or boxes, and you can use two on the same day. A regulatory fee may apply to items needing special handling (appliances, TVs, monitors, tires).
Limits: 12 collections a year, 8 large items each. Items no larger than 72 by 48 inches unless you flag an oversized piece like a sofa when scheduling. Bundles under 48 inches and 40 pounds; bags under 25 pounds.
Set-out: At your regular collection location by 6 a.m. on your confirmed day, never before. Appliances, TVs, monitors, and tires are collected by a separate truck and must be kept apart from other items. Wrap all large glass. Nothing stacked on mattresses. Crews cannot enter private property.
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 Long Beach: 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 hot tubs, 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 Long Beach: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Long Beach, California provides one of the more generous bulk waste programs in the country: each City-serviced residential refuse account receives 12 free Special Collections per year. The Energy and Environmental Services Department serves approximately 130,000 residential and 118,000 total accounts. California SB 1383 mandates the three-cart system: gray trash, blue recycling (collected by Waste Management under contract), and green organics for food scraps and yard trimmings. Long Beach is rolling out new blue recycling carts February through October 2026. Crews cannot enter private property due to insurance liabilities. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Long Beach residents.
The Long Beach rule for hot tubs: Flag it as oversized when scheduling; a drained, broken-down tub may be accepted. Most people hire a crew.
Program basics: 12 collections a year, 8 large items each. Items no larger than 72 by 48 inches unless you flag an oversized piece like a sofa when scheduling. Bundles under 48 inches and 40 pounds; bags under 25 pounds. At your regular collection location by 6 a.m. on your confirmed day, never before. Appliances, TVs, monitors, and tires are collected by a separate truck and must be kept apart from other items. Wrap all large glass. Nothing stacked on mattresses. Crews cannot enter private property.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste (city HHW events), construction debris beyond small amounts, and unwrapped glass.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Long Beach Recycles: Special Collection 101. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Long Beach. EDCO Recycling and Transfer Environmental Center handles regional HHW for Long Beach. Free for residents.
Why hot tubs are different from ordinary bulk. Hot tubs combine multiple disposal challenges in one item: weight (a typical 6-person hot tub weighs 300 to 500 lbs empty, 3,000+ lbs filled), size (typically 7 to 8 ft square or larger), specialized utilities (220V electrical, dedicated plumbing connections), and assembly complexity (rigid acrylic shell, foam insulation, frame, decorative skirt, jets, pumps, heaters).
Three mistakes that get hot tubs left at the curb:
For households without time or equipment for DIY disassembly:
Specialized Hot Tub Removal Services
$300 to $1,200Many local junk removal companies have hot-tub-specific service lines. Search “hot tub removal [your city]” for specialists. Pricing ranges $300 to $1,200 depending on size, complexity (above-ground vs. in-ground), and access (basement hot tubs cost more due to stair handling). Always get 2 to 3 quotes, pricing varies dramatically by region.
LoadUp paid hot tub pickup
$80+For Long Beach households needing in-home loading (city crews can’t enter property), items beyond city size and weight limits, or service when you’ve used your annual 12 Special Collections, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Long Beach area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your hot tub. 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 hot tub pickup in Long Beach with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Long Beach proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Long Beach junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national hot tub disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Long Beach: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Long Beach pick up hot tubs for free?
Flag it when scheduling. Most people hire a crew.
How much does paid hot tub removal cost in Long Beach?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single hot tub pickup in Long Beach starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Long Beach households needing in-home loading (city crews can’t enter property), items beyond city size and weight limits, or service when you’ve used your annual 12 Special Collections, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Long Beach area for upfront-priced pickup.
How much does professional hot tub removal cost?
Typical pricing ranges $300 to $800 for above-ground hot tubs, $500 to $1,200+ for in-ground or hard-to-access installations. The cost reflects 3 to 6 hours of labor with multiple crew members, specialized equipment for disassembly, electrical and plumbing disconnects, and disposal fees. Always get 2 to 3 quotes, prices vary significantly by region and accessibility.
Can I sell a non-working hot tub?
Sometimes. Non-working hot tubs occasionally find buyers who want them for: (1) Repair and resale, some buyers fix and flip. (2) Parts, the pumps, heaters, and jets have resale value separate from the shell. (3) Scrap metal, the frame contains 50 to 150 lbs of steel. List on Craigslist Free section or Facebook Marketplace at $0 with details about what works and what doesn’t. The key benefit even at $0: the buyer handles removal, saving you $300 to $800 in paid hauler fees.
Can I just drain it and leave it for trash collection?
Generally no. Most U.S. cities explicitly exclude hot tubs from regular bulk pickup because of weight (300+ lbs even drained) and size. A hot tub left at the curb without confirmed pickup will sit there, accumulate code enforcement notices, and may result in fines that exceed the cost of paid removal. Always check your city’s rules before any DIY approach, the city section above has summaries.
Do I need a permit to remove a hot tub?
For above-ground hot tubs, no permit is typically required for removal, just for installation. For in-ground hot tubs, removal may require a permit because of the excavation and electrical work involved. Some HOAs also require notification or approval for hot tub removal, especially if visible from common areas. Check with your municipality and HOA before starting work, and confirm with your removal service that they’ll handle any required permits as part of their pricing.
Is this Long Beach page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Long Beach guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
