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 tires 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: tires
Free, with a step firstUp to 5 tires up to 16 inches per pickup, kept separate, with a possible handling fee.
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 tires, 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 tires: Up to 5 tires up to 16 inches per pickup, kept separate, with a possible handling fee.
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 tires are different from ordinary bulk. Tires are widely banned from landfills (state laws in nearly every U.S. state) but easy to recycle through the established tire fee system. The disposal fee is built into every new tire purchase ($1 to $5 per tire), funding end-of-life processing.
Three mistakes that get tires left at the curb:
When free options don’t fit (no new tire purchase, no upcoming collection events, more than the per-event limit):
Auto Shop Tire-Only Disposal
$3 to $8 eachMost auto shops will accept old tires WITHOUT a new tire purchase for $3 to $8 per tire. The fee covers their disposal cost since they didn’t collect the tire fee on a new purchase from you.
The most universal paid option: Available at virtually every auto shop nationally, Discount Tire, Costco Tire Center, Walmart Auto Care, NTB, local independent shops. Many will let you drop off tires anytime during business hours, no appointment.
Volume limit: Most shops cap at 4 to 5 tires per visit. Larger volumes need specialized tire recyclers.
LoadUp paid tires 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 tires. 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 tires 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 tires 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 tires for free?
Yes, up to 5 per pickup, kept separate, with a Special Collection.
How much does paid tire removal cost in Long Beach?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single tires 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.
What’s the cheapest way to dispose of tires?
If you’re buying new tires anyway: free with new tire purchase at any tire shop. The disposal fee is built into the new tire price by state law. If you have old tires without buying new ones: $3 to $8 per tire at most auto shops, or free at periodic city tire collection events. Auto shops are the most universal option, every Discount Tire, Walmart Auto Care, Costco Tire Center, and local independent shop accepts old tires for the disposal fee.
Why are tires banned from landfills?
Whole tires don’t compress in landfills, they trap air and rise to the surface over time, breaking the landfill cap and creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus and Zika. Tire piles are also a major fire hazard, tire fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and release toxic smoke. Nearly every U.S. state has banned whole tires from landfills under solid waste laws. Recycled tires get shredded and used as tire-derived fuel for cement kilns and paper mills, crumb rubber for athletic field surfacing and playgrounds, and recycled rubber products.
How does the tire disposal fee work?
Every new tire sold in the U.S. includes a small disposal fee ($1 to $5 per tire built into the purchase price) that funds end-of-life recycling. Tire shops are required by state law to take old tires when you buy new ones, this is the simplest disposal channel and feels free because the cost was already paid when you bought the new tire. The fee varies by state: California $1.75 per tire, New York $2.50 per tire, most southern states $1 to $2 per tire.
What about specialty tires (agricultural, oversized, off-road)?
Most auto shops only accept passenger and light-truck tires. For agricultural tractor tires, oversized truck tires, motorcycle tires, and off-road tires, you’ll need a specialized recycler. Search “tire recycling” plus your tire type. Some farm equipment dealers accept their own brand back. Disposal fees for specialty tires are typically $20 to $100 per tire because of the larger volume of rubber.
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.
