Every 2 weeks
bulk and brush on your trash day during your recycling week, no appointment
$50
per appliance for a scheduled DPW pickup through 311 (free if you self-haul)
2
free city drop-off sites: East Richmond Road Convenience Center and Southside Transfer Station
Every route for a hot tub in Richmond, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Richmond guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Richmond, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Richmond bi-weekly bulk and brush collection: hot tubs
$50 appliance pickup, or free self-haulA drained, broken-down tub can go out as bulk; the transfer station takes large items too. Most people hire a crew.
Who qualifies: Households with City of Richmond DPW trash collection.
How to schedule: No appointment. Bulk and brush is collected every other week, on your trash day during your recycling week (check your Blue or Red week at cvwma.com or the DPW Service Finder). Put items next to your recycling cart the night before. If the crew misses you, they return by Saturday of that week.
Limits: No published volume cap for ordinary household bulk. Appliances are a separate $50 per-appliance pickup through 311. A 24-hour rush pickup is $100.
Set-out: Next to your recycling cart, at the same spot as household trash, by 6 a.m. on trash day during recycling week. Brush under 6 feet and 3 inches, bundled.
Richmond Southside Transfer Station: hot tubs
Free for residentsLarge items accepted.
Where: 3520 N. Hopkins Rd, Richmond, VA 23224
How it works: Free for city residents, no commercial vehicles. Monday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Large bulk items, appliances, brush, and up to 4 tires without rims ($1 each beyond 4).
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 Richmond: 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 Richmond: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Richmond runs an unusually comprehensive system: biweekly year-round Bulk and Brush pickup that mirrors the recycling Blue/Red week schedule, two free transfer stations open year-round, AND a 15 neighborhood Saturday Cleanup program that visits each zone twice between March and November. Trash collection requires City-issued "supercans" only per Section 86-81 ordinance, items in non-issued containers will not be collected and a violation notice will be issued. Set-out timing is strict: out no earlier than 4 PM the day before, removed by 7 AM the day after. Appliance pickups carry a $50 fee. Tire disposal limited to 4 free per household at the East Richmond Road Convenience Center. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Richmond rule for hot tubs: A drained, broken-down tub can go out as bulk; the transfer station takes large items too. Most people hire a crew.
Program basics: No published volume cap for ordinary household bulk. Appliances are a separate $50 per-appliance pickup through 311. A 24-hour rush pickup is $100. Next to your recycling cart, at the same spot as household trash, by 6 a.m. on trash day during recycling week. Brush under 6 feet and 3 inches, bundled.
What the city will not take: Carpet, auto parts, construction debris, and electronics. Tires are collected only with rims removed. Hazardous waste goes to the East Richmond Road Convenience Center.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Richmond DPW: Bulk and Brush collection, City of Richmond DPW: Trash Collection (transfer station and appliance fee), City of Richmond: Neighborhood Clean-Up Program 2026. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Richmond. Richmond residents can dispose of household hazardous waste through Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA) HHW programs and periodic special events. The City of Richmond does NOT accept hazardous waste in regular trash, bulk pickup, or Saturday Cleanups. Several retailers offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications. To report discarded tires or illegal dumping in your alleyway or along the roadside: call 3-1-1 or 804-646-7000 and provide the specific location to have abandoned tires removed.
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 households who need same-day service, can’t wait for biweekly Bulk and Brush, have items the City won’t take, want to avoid the $50 appliance fee while also avoiding self-hauling, live in apartments, or want full-service in-home pickup, LoadUp offers professional removal in Richmond with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Richmond with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Richmond proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Richmond 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 Richmond: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Richmond pick up hot tubs for free?
Possibly, broken down. Most people hire a crew.
How much does paid hot tub removal cost in Richmond?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single hot tub pickup in Richmond starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-day service, can’t wait for biweekly Bulk and Brush, have items the City won’t take, want to avoid the $50 appliance fee while also avoiding self-hauling, live in apartments, or want full-service in-home pickup, LoadUp offers professional removal in Richmond with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Richmond page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Richmond guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
