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A public resource guide
Free toilet and tub removal in Durham, NC
Every free and paid way to get rid of a toilet or bathtub in Durham, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Durham
Home › By item › Bathroom fixtures › Durham
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a toilet or bathtub in Durham, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Durham
3
bulky items per week, by request at durhamnc.gov/855 or 919-560-1200
6 a.m.
out at the curb on your scheduled day
Free
electronics, appliances, and up to 5 tires at the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center
Per-load vehicle fee
Durham Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, per-load vehicle fee
Every route for a toilet or bathtub in Durham, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Durham guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Durham, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Durham bulky item collection by request: toilets, bathtubs, and sinks
Not collectedToilets and sinks are building materials under Durham's rules. Habitat ReStore takes usable fixtures; the center takes the rest.
Why: Building materials, car parts, construction debris, dirt, electronics and TVs, glass and mirrors, loose leaves, propane tanks, tires, tree stumps, and wood or lumber. All of those go to the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center on East Club Boulevard.
Durham Waste Disposal and Recycling Center: toilets, bathtubs, and sinks
Per-load vehicle feeAccepted.
Where: 2115 E. Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27704, 919-560-1200
How it works: Residents pay $5 per passenger car or $15 per van or SUV for a trash load. Free: electronics, white goods, scrap metal, cardboard, textiles, and up to 5 tires. Fluids must be drained from lawn equipment.
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 Durham: 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 Durham: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Durham, North Carolina (#71 nationally) is part of the Research Triangle and operates one of the more efficient bulky item programs among comparable cities. One collection per week of up to 3 bulky items is free of charge, scheduled by request via Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200. Items beyond 3 incur charges. Yard waste customers get an additional 2 free bulky brush pickups per year. Yard waste switched to a biweekly Blue Week / Red Week schedule starting August 2025 (collected the same week as your biweekly recycling). Items containing Freon must have a certification tag from a licensed technician. The City operates a Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, Yard Waste Facility, and Household Hazardous Waste Center for residents. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Durham residents.
The Durham rule for toilets, bathtubs, and sinks: Toilets and sinks are building materials under Durham's rules. Habitat ReStore takes usable fixtures; the center takes the rest.
What the city will not take: Building materials, car parts, construction debris, dirt, electronics and TVs, glass and mirrors, loose leaves, propane tanks, tires, tree stumps, and wood or lumber. All of those go to the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center on East Club Boulevard.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Durham Solid Waste Management: Bulky Services (by request only), City of Durham: Disposal and Drop-Off Facilities (Waste Disposal and Recycling Center fees), City of Durham: Bulky Item Curbside Collection FAQ. 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 Durham households needing in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Triangle for upfront-priced pickup.
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 Durham with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Durham proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Durham 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 Durham: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Durham pick up toilets, bathtubs, and sinks for free?
No. Habitat ReStore if usable, otherwise the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center.
How much does paid toilet and tub removal cost in Durham?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single toilet or bathtub pickup in Durham starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Durham households needing in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Triangle for upfront-priced pickup.
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 Durham page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Durham guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.