Unlimited
free Junk Pickup appointments for San Jose residents
3-1-1
or 408-535-3500 to book, online at sanjoseca.gov/311
Apartments too
book through your property manager or GreenTeam, 408-282-4400
Every route for tires in San Jose, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full San Jose guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in San Jose, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
San Jose free Junk Pickup: tires
FreeTires are named on the city's Junk Pickup list; the haulers generally take up to 4 passenger tires per appointment, rims off. California tire retailers also take tires with a new purchase.
Who qualifies: Every San Jose resident. Houses and mobile home parks book through their recycling collection company; apartment and condo residents book through their property manager or GreenTeam of San Jose at 408-282-4400.
How to schedule: Schedule a free appointment at sanjoseca.gov/311, by dialing 3-1-1, or at 408-535-3500. The city says appointments are unlimited. Pickup is curbside, usually on your regular service day, and you set items out the day before.
Limits: Unlimited appointments. Items must come from your own home. Several items can go on one appointment; book another if you have more.
Set-out: Set items at the curb no earlier than the day before your confirmed appointment, spaced away from carts, cars, and mailboxes. Items at the curb without an appointment are treated as illegal dumping, which San Jose enforces.
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 San Jose: 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 San Jose: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
San Jose, CA offers one of the most generous bulk waste programs among major U.S. cities: unlimited free junk pickups for residential customers, scheduled on demand through your franchise hauler. There are no annual limits, no appointment windows with months-long waits, and no per-item fees. The catch: San Jose uses three different private haulers (GreenTeam, Garden City Sanitation, and GreenWaste Recovery) and your hauler depends on your address. California’s SB 1383 mandatory organics sorting also applies citywide. This guide covers every disposal option for San Jose residents.
The San Jose rule for tires: Tires are named on the city's Junk Pickup list; the haulers generally take up to 4 passenger tires per appointment, rims off. California tire retailers also take tires with a new purchase.
Program basics: Unlimited appointments. Items must come from your own home. Several items can go on one appointment; book another if you have more. Set items at the curb no earlier than the day before your confirmed appointment, spaced away from carts, cars, and mailboxes. Items at the curb without an appointment are treated as illegal dumping, which San Jose enforces.
What the city will not take: Construction and demolition debris, household hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, oil), and anything from a business. Electronics and refrigerant appliances are accepted, which is unusual.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of San Jose Environmental Services: Recycling and Garbage for Residents (free Junk Pickup), City of San Jose: Recycling and Garbage overview. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in San Jose. Santa Clara County operates a free HHW facility at the Environmental Innovation Center for San Jose residents. Appointment required, walk-ins are not accepted. Book at hhw.santaclaracounty.gov or call (408) 299-7300. Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 8 AM to noon. The facility address is provided only upon appointment confirmation.
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 San Jose households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need more capacity than free options provide, or want full-service crew-based hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the San Jose 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 San Jose with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside San Jose proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete San Jose 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 San Jose: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does San Jose pick up tires for free?
Yes, up to about 4 passenger tires per appointment, rims removed, through Junk Pickup.
How much does paid tire removal cost in San Jose?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single tires pickup in San Jose starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For San Jose households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need more capacity than free options provide, or want full-service crew-based hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the San Jose 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 San Jose page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full San Jose guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
