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A public resource guide
Habitat ReStore if usable, otherwise a hauler.
Checked against Austin Resource Recovery
3
on-demand bulk collections per calendar year, scheduled online or through 3-1-1
3 piles
metal, tires, and everything else, in place by 5:30 a.m.
8
passenger tires per collection, rims removed
Every route for a toilet or bathtub in Austin, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Austin guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Austin, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Austin Resource Recovery on-demand bulk collection: toilets, bathtubs, and sinks
Not collectedToilets, tubs, and tile are remodeling debris on ARR's not-accepted list. Habitat ReStore takes usable fixtures; otherwise a hauler or dumpster.
Why: Brush (separate service), cardboard, construction and remodeling debris including sheet glass, tile, and mirrors, carpet from construction, hazardous materials, household trash, tires still on rims, and vehicles, boats, and trailers.
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 Austin: 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 toilets, bathtubs, and sinks, 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 Austin: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Austin’s bulk system changed materially in January 2025, Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) moved from a predetermined biannual schedule to on-demand collection with up to 3 appointments per service type per calendar year. New on-demand household hazardous waste pickup launched the same day. This page walks through every option in order from free to paid, including the strict 5+ unit cutoff that excludes most apartment buildings.
The Austin rule for toilets, bathtubs, and sinks: Toilets, tubs, and tile are remodeling debris on ARR's not-accepted list. Habitat ReStore takes usable fixtures; otherwise a hauler or dumpster.
What the city will not take: Brush (separate service), cardboard, construction and remodeling debris including sheet glass, tile, and mirrors, carpet from construction, hazardous materials, household trash, tires still on rims, and vehicles, boats, and trailers.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Austin Resource Recovery Administrative Rules (Chapter 15-6), on-demand bulk and brush guidelines, Austin American-Statesman summary of ARR's accepted and not-accepted bulk items (August 2026). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why toilets, bathtubs, and sinks are different from ordinary bulk. Porcelain is the sticking point. A whole toilet or pedestal sink is heavy, awkward, and shatters into sharp pieces, so many bulk crews refuse them intact. Some cities accept porcelain if it is broken into pieces and bagged or boxed; others route it to the transfer station as inert C&D material. Clean porcelain is actually recyclable as aggregate, and a growing number of regions accept it at concrete recyclers.
Three mistakes that get toilets, bathtubs, and sinks left at the curb:
When the city classifies fixtures as C&D and no scrap or donation route fits, paid options are the only legal path.
Self-haul to a transfer station or C&D recycler
$10 to $40Transfer stations accept fixtures as C&D by weight or by load. Clean porcelain is accepted at some concrete and aggregate recyclers for less. Break porcelain into bagged pieces to make it easy to handle.
Line the vehicle. Porcelain shards will cut carpet and tires.
LoadUp paid toilet or bathtub pickup
$80+For households who need same-week service, exceed 3 annual ARR collections, or live in 5+ unit buildings (excluded from city pickup), LoadUp offers professional removal in Austin with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your toilet or bathtub. 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 toilet or bathtub pickup in Austin with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Austin proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Austin junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national toilet, bathtub, and sink disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Austin: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Austin pick up toilets, bathtubs, and sinks for free?
No. Fixtures count as remodeling debris. Habitat ReStore if usable, otherwise a hauler.
How much does paid toilet and tub removal cost in Austin?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single toilet or bathtub pickup in Austin starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-week service, exceed 3 annual ARR collections, or live in 5+ unit buildings (excluded from city pickup), LoadUp offers professional removal in Austin with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
Can I put an old toilet out with bulk trash?
It depends on the city. Some accept toilets and sinks with bulk pickup, some accept only broken porcelain in bags with regular trash, and many classify fixtures as construction debris and exclude them. Check the directory below for your city.
Is porcelain recyclable?
Yes, as inert aggregate. Crushed toilets and sinks become road base and fill. Some transfer stations and concrete recyclers accept clean porcelain for less than general C&D rates, and some water utilities run toilet recycling drop-offs.
How do I get a cast iron tub out of a second-floor bathroom?
Either hire scrappers or movers who handle the weight, or break it. Cover the tub with a heavy blanket, wear eye protection, gloves, and long sleeves, and strike the side near the drain with a sledgehammer; cast iron cracks into pieces that two people can carry. Clean up the enamel chips, which are sharp.
Will a ReStore take a used toilet?
Most will if it is a 1.6 gpf or lower model, uncracked, clean, and complete with tank lid and seat. Some require the WaterSense 1.28 gpf label. Older 3.5 gpf toilets are generally refused.
Is this Austin page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Austin guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.