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A public resource guide

Free toilet and tub removal in Seattle, WA

Habitat ReStore takes usable fixtures.

Roll-off dumpster filled with furniture and renovation debris Checked against Seattle Public Utilities

$30

per large item (furniture, appliances, TVs) for SPU Special Item Pickup

$38

per refrigerator or freezer containing CFCs (pre-2005)

2 free

special item pickups a year for Utility Discount Program customers

Every route for a toilet or bathtub in Seattle, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Seattle guide covers every other item.

Free toilet and tub removal in Seattle

Here is how each route works in Seattle, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.

Seattle Public Utilities Special Item Pickup: toilets, bathtubs, and sinks

SPU pickup, $30 per item

Toilets and sinks can be scheduled as $30 special items or self-hauled. Habitat ReStore takes usable fixtures free.

Who qualifies: SPU solid waste customers (the utility account holder must make the request). Seattle has no free bulky program; this is a per-item fee service billed to your utility bill. Utility Discount Program customers in single-family homes get 2 free special item pickups a year and up to 2 free transfer station passes.

How to schedule: Schedule online through your SPU account or call 206-684-3000. Items go out at your normal collection point by 7 a.m. on the collection day given; SPU sends preparation instructions when you book.

Limits: $30 per item for large furniture, appliances, and TVs larger than 2 by 2 by 2 feet. $38 per item for CFC appliances such as refrigerators and freezers made before 2005. $20 for a special items box of small electronics and appliances. $5 for CFLs, batteries, and small propane canisters.

Set-out: At your normal solid waste collection point by 7 a.m. on the scheduled day; if that spot is behind a locked gate, put the item outside it. Leaving bulky items on the planting strip without a scheduled pickup is illegal dumping, and items found next to your cart are collected and billed.

Read the full Seattle city services guide ›

Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)

Free

Freemoval 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 Seattle: 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 Seattle: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.

For partners ›

How Seattle handles toilets, bathtubs, and sinks

Seattle takes a different approach than most major U.S. cities: bulk pickup is fee-based, not free. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) charges per-item fees for its Special Item Pickup, $30 for furniture, $38 for CFC-containing appliances like fridges and freezers. The catch is that Utility Discount Program (UDP) customers get up to 2 free pickups per year, and starting April 2026, all SPU customers will get 1 free Special Item Box per year. Mandatory composting has been in place since 2015. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.

The Seattle rule for toilets, bathtubs, and sinks: Toilets and sinks can be scheduled as $30 special items or self-hauled. Habitat ReStore takes usable fixtures free.

Program basics: $30 per item for large furniture, appliances, and TVs larger than 2 by 2 by 2 feet. $38 per item for CFC appliances such as refrigerators and freezers made before 2005. $20 for a special items box of small electronics and appliances. $5 for CFLs, batteries, and small propane canisters. At your normal solid waste collection point by 7 a.m. on the scheduled day; if that spot is behind a locked gate, put the item outside it. Leaving bulky items on the planting strip without a scheduled pickup is illegal dumping, and items found next to your cart are collected and billed.

What the city will not take: Nothing is free, and construction debris and hazardous waste are not part of the program. Electronics can instead go free through E-Cycle Washington drop-off sites.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Seattle Public Utilities: Special Item Collections (fees), Seattle Public Utilities: Transfer Station Rates. 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.

Prep checklist before pickup day in Seattle

  • Shut the supply valve, flush, and sponge out the toilet tank and bowl. Disconnect the supply line.
  • Remove the tank bolts and lift the tank off separately; it halves the weight.
  • Unbolt the toilet from the flange, rock it free, and set it on cardboard. Stuff a rag in the floor flange.
  • For tubs, confirm the material: a magnet sticks to cast iron and steel, not to fiberglass or acrylic.
  • Cut fiberglass tubs to your city’s length limit with a reciprocating saw, or break cast iron under a blanket with eye protection.

Three mistakes that get toilets, bathtubs, and sinks left at the curb:

  • Don't set a whole toilet at the curb in a city that excludes fixtures. It will sit there, and porcelain at the curb is a frequent code citation.
  • Don't scrap a clawfoot or vintage cast iron tub. Salvage shops pay real money for them and will often remove them for you.
  • Don't break porcelain without eye protection and gloves. It shatters into edges sharper than glass.

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 $40

Transfer 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-day service, want full-service hauling (no curbside drag-out required), or live in apartment buildings without property manager Special Item Pickup coordination, LoadUp offers professional removal in Seattle 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 Seattle with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.

Toilet, bathtub, and sink rules in nearby cities

Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Seattle proper, start with the guide for your own city:

See the Spokane guide.
Closest category in the Akron table: Not accepted in curbside or Special Bulk Volume Pickup. Options: dumpster rental ($300-$500), licensed C&D landfill,…
Closest category in the Albuquerque table: NOT accepted in Large Item Pick-Up. Convenience Centers may accept small amounts. Dumpster rental for larger.
Closest category in the Allentown table: Not accepted in curbside collection. Options: roll-off dumpster rental ($300-$500), licensed C&D landfill, or…
Closest category in the Anaheim table: NOT in bulky pickup. Licensed C&D landfill, Republic Services roll-off rental, or paid hauler.
See the Anchorage guide.

Related guides: the complete Seattle 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 Seattle: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.

Common questions about toilet and tub removal in Seattle

Does Seattle pick up toilets, bathtubs, and sinks for free?

Not free through the city ($30). Habitat ReStore takes usable fixtures.

How much does paid toilet and tub removal cost in Seattle?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single toilet or bathtub pickup in Seattle starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-day service, want full-service hauling (no curbside drag-out required), or live in apartment buildings without property manager Special Item Pickup coordination, LoadUp offers professional removal in Seattle 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 Seattle page maintained?

Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Seattle guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.

Fund a free pickup in Seattle

Help cover someone else’s haul.

Most LoadUp customers fund Freemoval pickups by rounding up at checkout. If you’re not booking a paid pickup yourself but want to help, you can contribute directly, pooled with other donations to fund subsidized pickups in Seattle at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer.

Choose a custom amount→

Freemoval is a social impact program of LoadUp Technologies, LLC. Contributions are not tax-deductible. 100% of contributions fund pickups at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer. No separate fundraising overhead is deducted from donations.