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Bulk trash pickup in Raleigh, NC now costs $35 per load with no cap on how many loads you can schedule in a year. That change took effect April 1 2026 and it replaced the older two pickup per year limit that still shows up on a lot of third party sites.
If you searched this because your neighbor told you something different check the City of Raleigh’s own bulky collection page before you plan around outdated numbers. For jobs bigger than a single load or on a timeline the city cannot match Three Brothers Hauling & Logistics runs same week bulk trash removal across Raleigh.
Our crew clears full garages estate cleanouts and renovation leftovers the city will not touch at all.
What Does Raleigh Bulk Trash Pickup Take
Large item trash pickup in Raleigh is collected into three separate programs and each one accepts a different set of items. Mixing them up is the most common reason a load gets left at the curb.
Bulky Load Collection:
Takes furniture mattresses box springs bed frames area rugs bicycles with the tires removed grills with the propane tank pulled and push mowers with the fuel drained. A single load tops out at four cubic yards roughly the footprint of two couches or three queen mattresses stacked together.
Special Load Collection:
Covers what Bulky Load will not: white goods like refrigerators ranges freezers washers and dryers plus large exercise equipment excess garbage up to 24 bags and excess yard waste up to 24 biodegradable bags. This is also the category for bulk garbage pickup when your regular cart cannot hold what one cleanout produces.
E-waste Collection:
Residents get up to four electronic items collected curbside per week and pickup runs Tuesdays only. Televisions working or broken computer monitors and small corded appliances all qualify.
What Items Are Not Accepted for Bulk Trash Pickup
None of the above mentioned three programs will accept glass, cardboard, batteries or tires. That includes bike tires that people forget until the truck skips the whole bike.
Construction and remodeling debris is the other big miss. Toilets sinks mirrors windows flooring cabinets and countertops are all excluded even from Special Load. Tree stumps and limbs longer than five feet or thicker than six inches stay off the list too along with loose leaves that were not bagged and treated lumber. If a contractor generated it the city will not haul it.
Setting items at the curb before your pickup is scheduled is not a workaround either. Raleigh City Code Section 7 allows administrative fines for exactly that.
What Are the Raleigh Bulk Trash Rules for Placement
Properly place bulky items to maintain the collection area and avoid a missed pickup.
- Place items at the curb on a flat area, never in the street.
- Keep items at least five feet clear of mailboxes, cars, and utility lines.
- Make sure the load is accessible because crews cannot ask vehicles to move. A blocked load may be skipped.
- Townhome residents without a front driveway should place items at the end of their parking space, farthest from the curb and buildings.
- Do not place items in alleyways, as the city does not collect from them.
Bulky Item Pickup Raleigh | Steps to Prepare Your Items
Make sure every item meets the required preparation rules. Items outside the guidelines may be skipped and result in a rejection notice.
- Empty furniture before pickup
Do not leave clothes or other belongings inside dressers, drawers, or containers you want removed. Keep each item separate and ready for collection.
- Place items on open ground
Set everything on open ground where crews can easily access it. Do not lean items against a fence or place them under a porch.
- Fix rejected loads before rebooking
If your load is rejected, you may need to correct the problem and wait for a future route or call to rebook. If the original charge has already posted, another fee may apply.
- Plan ahead for bulk trash collection
Improper preparation can turn a one-week pickup into a two-week wait, so make sure everything is ready before the scheduled collection.
How Much Does Bulk Trash Pickup Raleigh NC Cost
Loads bill in full increments so a half filled load still costs the full rate. You can find the city’s current fee schedule and any updates on the Solid Waste Fees page.
| Collection Type | Cost | Load Limit | Typical Items |
| Bulky Load | $35 per load | 4 cubic yards (6 ft L x 3 ft W x 4 ft H) | Furniture mattresses bed frames bicycles |
| Special Load | $70 per load | 4 cubic yards | Appliances exercise gear excess yard waste |
| E-waste | Free up to 4 items | Weekly Tuesday only | TVs monitors small electronics |
What Drives the Price Up on a Bulk Trash Hauling Job
A single sofa at $35 is the cheapest scenario the city offers. The math changes fast once a job needs more than one load.
A full garage or a downsizing move often runs three or four Bulky Loads plus a Special Load for the appliances. At city rates that stacks up to well over $200 before you count the days spent waiting between scheduled pickups.
Add any item the city flatly refuses like a bathroom vanity or a stump and you are now paying for a separate private trip anyway on top of what you already spent on the city portion.
This is the math homeowners run when they call us instead. A flat rate quote from Three Brothers Hauling & Logistics covers the whole pile in one visit including anything the city categories exclude.
How Do You Schedule Raleigh Bulky Item Pickup
Call Solid Waste Services Customer Support at 919-996-3245 and give your name property address phone number and a description of what you are getting rid of. That description is what determines whether you land in the bulk waste pickup Raleigh or E-waste category.
The charge posts to your next utility bill automatically. If plans change cancel before noon the business day before your scheduled date or you lose the refund.
Why North Carolina Law Treats Electronics Differently
Televisions and computer equipment cannot legally go in a North Carolina landfill at all. State law under N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.130 through 130A-309.142 bans televisions computers monitors printers and scanners from landfill disposal statewide.
That is the reason Raleigh runs e-waste as its own free Tuesday program instead of folding it into Bulky Load. Put a television at the curb on a regular Bulky Load day and it gets left behind because the truck route and the disposal facility on the other end are entirely separate systems.
When to Call a Private Company for Big Bulk Trash Pickup
The city works well for one sofa or a single mattress. It falls short fast on whole house cleanouts eviction cleanups estate situations or any job with construction debris mixed in since none of that qualifies under Bulky or Special Load.
Three Brothers Hauling & Logistics handles large trash pickup the same day in most cases and we take contractor debris the city legally cannot. Call 919-559-2801 or email info@threebrothershl.com for a load based quote.
Location FAQs
Does bulk trash pickup work the same in downtown Raleigh apartments as it does in North Raleigh subdivisions?
No. Curbside bulky collection is a residential service and buildings with several units under shared management typically arrange private dumpster service instead. Renters in downtown high rises should check with their property manager first.
Can Five Points and Oakwood residents put items in the alley for pickup?
No. City trucks cannot collect from alleyways anywhere in Raleigh including the historic Oakwood and Five Points neighborhoods. Items need to go at the curb along the main street even on the narrow lots common in those areas.
Do townhomes near NC State without a driveway follow different placement rules?
Yes. Place items at the far end of your parking space away from the curb and the building with five feet of clearance on all sides.
Is there a faster option than city pickup for renovation debris in Raleigh?
Yes. Construction and remodeling debris is excluded from every city program so a private hauler like Three Brothers is the only same week option for that material anywhere in Raleigh.
General FAQs
What items are accepted for bulk trash pickup?
Furniture mattresses bed frames appliances yard equipment and electronics are accepted depending on which of the three city categories the item falls under.
What is the difference between Bulky Load and Special Load Collection?
Bulky Load covers furniture and household items under four cubic yards. Special Load covers appliances exercise equipment excess garbage and excess yard waste at a higher $70 rate.
Can businesses use Raleigh’s bulk trash pickup service?
No. Bulky Special and E-waste Collection are limited to residential curbside customers. Commercial properties need a private hauler regardless of size.
How long does it take to get on the schedule after calling?
The city does not publish a fixed wait time and it varies by season and route volume. A private hauler like Three Brothers can usually schedule within the same week.
Sources
- City of Raleigh — Bulky, Special, and E-Waste Collection
Official information on accepted items, load limits, placement rules, scheduling, and items the city will not collect. - City of Raleigh — Solid Waste Fees
Current fee information for Bulky Load and Special Load collection services. - North Carolina DEQ — Electronics Management
State guidance covering electronics recycling and landfill restrictions for televisions, computers, monitors, printers, and related equipment.
