$5
per item at the Residential Drop-Off Center by appointment (mattresses priced separately)
About $31
for the first curbside burnable item through Casella, about $26 each additional
311
to book either option; pay when you schedule
Per-tire fee
Worcester Residential Drop-Off Center, per-tire fee
Every route for tires in Worcester, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Worcester guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Worcester, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Worcester paid bulk waste pickup and drop-off: tires
Paid pickup or $5 drop-offCar tires are listed among curbside burnables for the per-item fee and accepted at the drop-off center for a fee.
Who qualifies: Worcester residents with city curbside service.
How to schedule: Worcester has no free bulky pickup. Curbside bulk is collected by Casella at city-negotiated per-item rates (burnables such as a couch about $31 for the first piece and about $26 each after), paid when you schedule through 311 or online, out by 7 a.m. The cheaper route is the Residential Drop-Off Center by appointment: most items a flat $5 each, mattresses priced separately.
Limits: Unlimited items per curbside appointment, each charged. Drop-off center by appointment on posted days.
Set-out: At the curb by 7 a.m. on the scheduled day. Fees are non-refundable without 24 hours' cancellation notice.
Worcester Residential Drop-Off Center: tires
Per-tire feeBy appointment.
Where: Millbury Street yard; appointments and address at worcesterma.gov
How it works: By appointment through 311 or online, on posted days. Most bulk items a flat $5 each; mattresses and box springs priced separately; appliances and white goods, electronics, and tires accepted with fees.
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 Worcester: 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 Worcester: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Worcester, Massachusetts uses a pay-as-you-throw system where all regular household trash must go in official city yellow bags ($1.00 small, $1.75 large). Recycling is free. Bulk items cannot be left at the curb without an appointment, unlike many cities where curbside bulk is automatic. The main bulk pathway is the Residential Drop-Off Center at 1065 Millbury Street, open April through November by appointment, charging a flat $5 per item. Massachusetts’ mattress recycling law also applies citywide. This guide covers every disposal option for Worcester residents.
The Worcester rule for tires: Car tires are listed among curbside burnables for the per-item fee and accepted at the drop-off center for a fee.
Program basics: Unlimited items per curbside appointment, each charged. Drop-off center by appointment on posted days. At the curb by 7 a.m. on the scheduled day. Fees are non-refundable without 24 hours' cancellation notice.
What the city will not take: Hazardous waste and construction debris. Electronics and CRTs are accepted for a separate per-item fee.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Worcester DPW: Bulk Waste Disposal. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Worcester. The City of Worcester holds free Household Hazardous Waste Day drop-off events, typically four times per year, by appointment. Check worcesterma.gov for the current year’s dates.
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 Worcester households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need crew labor, or want faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Worcester 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 Worcester with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Worcester proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Worcester 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 Worcester: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Worcester pick up tires for free?
For a fee curbside or at the drop-off center, or a tire shop.
How much does paid tire removal cost in Worcester?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single tires pickup in Worcester starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Worcester households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need crew labor, or want faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Worcester 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 Worcester page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Worcester guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
