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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of moving boxes and cardboard in Salt Lake City, verified October 2026.
Checked against Salt Lake City
1 + 1
free Call 2 Haul pickups a year: one bulk waste, one green waste
8x4x4 ft
maximum pile, about a pickup-truck bed, mattresses set apart
If it plugs in
it qualifies: TVs, computers, and refrigerators are all accepted
Every route for moving boxes and cardboard in Salt Lake City, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Salt Lake City guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Salt Lake City, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Salt Lake City Call 2 Haul: moving boxes and cardboard
FreeFlattened cardboard goes in the blue recycling cart.
Who qualifies: Households with Salt Lake City residential curbside garbage service (you need your Public Utilities account number).
How to schedule: Schedule online at slc.gov/sustainability/call-2-haul or call 801-535-6999 (Monday to Friday, 8 to 5). Two scheduled pickups a year are included: one bulk waste pickup and one green waste pickup. Pickup lands on a scheduled day between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Limits: One bulk pickup and one green waste pickup per year. Pile about 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 4 feet high (a pickup-truck bed). Larger loads go to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill or a private hauler. Up to 4 automobile tires.
Set-out: At the curb on your scheduled date, 5 feet from hydrants, trees, poles, mailboxes, and walls, with 10 feet of open space on each side, mattresses set apart from the pile, breakables not stacked.
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 Salt Lake City: 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 moving boxes and cardboard, 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 Salt Lake City: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Salt Lake City operates one of the more resident-friendly bulk waste programs in the Mountain West. The free Call 2 Haul program gives every residential garbage customer two free scheduled bulk waste pickups per year, year-round on demand, with no zone rotation or appointment windows. The city also operates a mandatory 4-cart recycling and compost system with weekly collection. This guide covers every legitimate disposal option for Salt Lake City residents, including the program-specific details that distinguish SLC from surrounding cities (Salt Lake County, West Valley City, Murray, and Millcreek all have separate waste programs).
The Salt Lake City rule for moving boxes and cardboard: Flattened cardboard goes in the blue recycling cart.
Program basics: One bulk pickup and one green waste pickup per year. Pile about 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 4 feet high (a pickup-truck bed). Larger loads go to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill or a private hauler. Up to 4 automobile tires. At the curb on your scheduled date, 5 feet from hydrants, trees, poles, mailboxes, and walls, with 10 feet of open space on each side, mattresses set apart from the pile, breakables not stacked.
What the city will not take: Construction debris, household hazardous waste, large truck tires, and city-owned tree trimmings. Call 2 Haul is not a pile program for unlimited waste.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Salt Lake City Sustainability: Call 2 Haul bulk waste collection, Salt Lake City: Bulk item collection (what Call 2 Haul accepts), Salt Lake City: Material set-out guidelines. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why moving boxes and cardboard are different from ordinary bulk. Volume is the only problem. Cardboard is clean, dry, and valuable to recyclers, but it is bulky until flattened and a stack of 100 boxes is a small room. Most curbside programs accept flattened cardboard bundled next to the cart, within size limits (often 2 by 3 feet, tied), and reject boxes that are not broken down.
Three mistakes that get moving boxes and cardboard left at the curb:
Paid options are rarely needed for cardboard alone, but a move-out cleanout that includes boxes, packing material, and leftover items is a common hauler job.
Junk removal pickup for a whole move-out
$100 to $400When boxes are mixed with furniture, packing material, and leftover items, a hauler clears it in one trip and recycles the cardboard.
Flatten what you can first to reduce the volume and the price.
LoadUp paid moving box pickup
$80+For Salt Lake City households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have already used their Call 2 Haul allotment, are clearing a full room or property, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Salt Lake City area.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your moving box. 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 moving box pickup in Salt Lake City with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Salt Lake City proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Salt Lake City junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national moving boxes and cardboard disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Salt Lake City: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Salt Lake City pick up moving boxes and cardboard for free?
Yes, flattened, in the recycling cart.
How much does paid moving box removal cost in Salt Lake City?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single moving box pickup in Salt Lake City starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Salt Lake City households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have already used their Call 2 Haul allotment, are clearing a full room or property, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Salt Lake City area.
How do I recycle a lot of moving boxes?
Flatten every box, bundle to your program’s size limit (often 2 by 3 feet), and tie with twine. Put out a few bundles each collection week, or take the whole flattened stack to a recycling drop-off or a retailer’s cardboard baler in one trip. Check your city’s bundle rules in the directory below.
Can I leave the tape and labels on?
Yes. Recycling mills screen out tape and labels. Remove large plastic liners, foam, and packing material.
Where can I give away moving boxes?
Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor, Buy Nothing groups, and box exchange listings on moving sites. Post the count and sizes, slit the tape and fold flat without crushing, and takers usually collect within a day.
Is bubble wrap recyclable?
Not curbside. Bubble wrap and air pillows are plastic film accepted at grocery and retail store film drop-off bins, and shipping stores often take clean bubble wrap for reuse.
Is this Salt Lake City page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Salt Lake City guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.