7
items per bulk appointment, booked through 311 or 311.dc.gov
10 to 14 days
typical wait for an appointment
4
tires accepted at Fort Totten Transfer Station, Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Every route for tires in Washington, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Washington guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Washington, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
DC DPW bulk trash collection by appointment: tires
Not collectedTires are not collected. DC residents can take up to 4 tires to Fort Totten Transfer Station, Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only.
Why: Electronics and televisions, tires, construction, demolition, and renovation materials (drywall, bricks, ceiling tile, dirt), tree stumps, hazardous and liquid waste, and bagged trash.
Fort Totten Transfer Station: tires
Free, up to 4Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only.
Where: 4900 John McCormack Rd NE, Washington, DC 20011
How it works: DC residents with ID can drop off bulk items, trash, and recycling without an appointment: Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Up to 4 tires accepted Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only. No renovation materials. Household hazardous waste and electronics go to DPW's Special Waste Collection events instead.
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 Washington: 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 Washington: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
DC has a clean appointment-based system through 311 with one of the strictest set-out windows in the country: between 6:30 PM the night before and 6:00 AM the day of your appointment, period. Bulk pickup is capped at 7 items per appointment, and only single-family homes and buildings with 3 or fewer units qualify, a hard cutoff that excludes most apartment dwellers. The Fort Totten Transfer Station provides free drop-off for District residents who can self-haul. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Washington rule for tires: Tires are not collected. DC residents can take up to 4 tires to Fort Totten Transfer Station, Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only.
What the city will not take: Electronics and televisions, tires, construction, demolition, and renovation materials (drywall, bricks, ceiling tile, dirt), tree stumps, hazardous and liquid waste, and bagged trash.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: DC Department of Public Works: Bulk Trash Collection, DC DPW: Bulk Trash Collection (eligibility and Fort Totten details). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Washington. DC hosts Special Waste Collection Events throughout the year for residents to dispose of electronics, hazardous waste, and to shred documents. Reserve a 15-minute drop-off slot in advance and bring proof of DC residency. No commercial waste accepted. Several retailers also 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.
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 households who can’t wait for an appointment slot, exceed the 7-item appointment limit, or live in 4+ unit buildings (excluded from DPW service), LoadUp offers professional removal in DC with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Washington with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Washington proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Washington 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 Washington: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Washington pick up tires for free?
No. Up to 4 tires at Fort Totten, Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
How much does paid tire removal cost in Washington?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single tires pickup in Washington starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who can’t wait for an appointment slot, exceed the 7-item appointment limit, or live in 4+ unit buildings (excluded from DPW service), LoadUp offers professional removal in DC with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Washington page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Washington guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
