Portland Bulk Pickup: What You Need to Know (2026 Guide)

Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) oversees the city's residential garbage and recycling system. Unlike a city-run bulk pickup schedule, Portland contracts with private haulers who are each assigned specific service areas. Your hauler depends on your address.

- **Houses, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes** (1–4 unit residential properties) within Portland city limits - You must be the account holder or coordinate through the property owner/landlord - **Not eligible:** Apartment buildings with 5+ units, commercial properties

1. **Find your garbage company:** Visit Portland.gov and look up your address on the garbage company map, or call the City of Portland at 503-823-7202 2. **Contact your hauler directly:** Call them to request a bulky waste pickup. Major Portland haulers include Waste Management, City Sanitary Service, and Heiberg Garbage & Recycling, among others. 3. **Schedule a date:** Most companies will schedule pickup within 7 days 4. **Set items out:** Place items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your pickup day

Portland's bulky waste collection rates are regulated by the city:

- **Base rate for a single trip:** Approximately $18 - **Additional charges:** May apply for extra time required, additional crew members, or heavy/difficult items - **The rate covers:** One trip to your property to collect items you've set at the curb

This is a regulated rate — meaning your garbage company can't charge whatever they want. BPS sets the maximum rates that haulers can charge for bulky waste collection.

**Typically accepted:** - Furniture (couches, tables, chairs, dressers, desks) - Mattresses and box springs - Large appliances (with restrictions on Freon-containing units) - Carpet and rugs (rolled and bundled) - Exercise equipment - Large household items that don't fit in your regular cart

**Not accepted or may require special handling:** - Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, batteries) - Electronics (covered by Oregon E-Cycles program) - Tires - Construction debris in large quantities - Yard waste exceeding normal collection amounts

While the $18 base rate sounds great, there are several real-world limitations to be aware of:

You have to call, schedule, and wait — typically up to 7 days. If you need something gone today because you're moving, hosting guests, or dealing with an HOA notice, the timeline doesn't work.

If you live in a building with 5+ units — which includes a huge portion of Portland's rental housing in areas like the Pearl District, NW 23rd, inner SE, and the Lloyd District — you don't have access to this program. Your property manager handles waste, and they may or may not offer bulky item pickup.

The garbage company won't come inside your home. Items must be at the curb before pickup. If you're dealing with a heavy sleeper sofa on the second floor of a Hawthorne bungalow or a treadmill in the basement, getting it to the curb is your problem.

The base rate covers one trip. If you're doing a full house cleanout — moving, estate clearing, post-renovation cleanup — one trip won't cut it. Multiple trips mean multiple charges, and at that point, you might be better off with a different approach.

Renters in Portland need to go through their landlord to arrange bulky pickup, which adds a communication layer and potential delays. Some landlords are responsive; others... aren't.

If you have your own truck or can borrow one, Portland's Metro transfer stations accept bulk items year-round.

- **Address:** 6161 NW 61st Ave, Portland, OR 97210 - **What it accepts:** Trash, yard debris, mixed wood waste, appliances, household hazardous waste - **Good for:** Portland residents on the west side, NW Portland, Beaverton area

- **Address:** 2001 Washington St, Oregon City, OR 97045 - **What it accepts:** Similar to Metro Central, but does NOT accept commercial organics or semi-trailer loads - **Good for:** Residents in SE Portland, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Clackamas County

- **Minimum load fee:** $28 at staffed scales (covers up to 240 lbs) - **Over 240 lbs:** Charged at per-ton rates plus a $7.85 per-load transaction fee - **Garbage rate:** $162.14 per ton - **Uncovered load fee:** Additional $25/ton ($3 extra for minimum loads) — cover your load!

- **Separate materials:** Sorted loads (yard debris separate from garbage, wood separate from mixed waste) can save money since different materials have different per-ton rates. - **Cover your load:** An uncovered load surcharge of $3 (minimum) to $25/ton applies. A basic tarp from Fred Meyer or Home Depot costs less than the surcharge. - **Check hours before going:** Hours vary and can change seasonally. Call Metro's hotline at 503-234-3000 or visit oregonmetro.gov. - **Bring ID:** You may be asked for identification and address verification.

Dropcurb offers on-demand curbside pickup in Portland — think of it as an upgraded version of bulky waste collection without the scheduling delays or eligibility restrictions.

| Feature | City Bulky Pickup | Dropcurb | |---|---|---| | Cost (1 item) | ~$18 | $79 | | Scheduling | Up to 7 days | On-demand | | Available to apartments | No (5+ units excluded) | Yes | | Booking method | Phone call to hauler | Online | | Multiple items | Extra charges | $19–$39 per additional item | | Speed | 1–7 days | Same-day/next-day available |

- **First item:** $79 - **Additional items:** $19 (small), $29 (standard), $39 (large) - **How it works:** Book online → set items at curb → Dropcurb picks up

Dropcurb is more expensive than the $18 city bulky pickup for a single item — but it's available to everyone (including apartment residents), faster to schedule, and doesn't require a phone call or landlord coordination. For many Portland residents, the convenience premium is worth it.

Before paying for pickup or drop-off, consider whether your items could be donated:

Portland's furniture bank with three locations: - **Portland:** 3969 NE MLK Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97212 (503-235-8786) - **Gresham:** 464 NE 219th Ave, Gresham, OR - **Tigard:** 9806 SW Tigard St, Tigard, OR 97223 - **Hours:** Tuesday–Saturday, 9 AM–5 PM - **Accepts:** Sofas, dressers, tables, mattresses (must be clean and in good condition)

- **Portland:** 10445 SE Cherry Blossom Dr - **Gresham:** 610 NE 181st Ave - **Beaverton:** 13475 SW Millikan Way - **Tigard:** 12130 SW Main St - **Accepts:** Furniture, appliances, home decor, building materials

- **Salvation Army Portland** — free pickup for qualifying items - **Goodwill** — multiple Portland locations, accepts furniture and household goods - **St. Vincent de Paul** — local thrift stores accept furniture

Donation is free, gives you a tax deduction, and keeps usable items out of the landfill. The trade-off is that items must be in decent condition and you may need to transport them yourself.

For large cleanouts or items you can't move to the curb, full-service companies will come inside your home and do all the lifting:

- **1-800-GOT-JUNK Portland:** Starting ~$129/item, $700–$1,000+ for full truck. Call 971-417-4401. - **Junk King Portland:** Starting ~$99–$149 - **Local haulers:** $100–$175 minimum

Full-service makes financial sense for large-scale cleanouts (estate clearing, post-renovation, hoarder situations) where the volume justifies the price. For 1–5 items, per-item services like Dropcurb are almost always cheaper.

Here's how to choose the right option:

**Do you live in a 1–4 unit property?** - Yes → You're eligible for city bulky pickup (~$18). Can you wait up to 7 days? If yes, call your garbage hauler. - No → City bulky pickup isn't available. Consider Dropcurb ($79) or self-haul to Metro ($28).

**Are items in good, donatable condition?** - Yes → Try Community Warehouse or Habitat ReStore first (free) - No → Proceed to paid options

**Do you have a truck?** - Yes → Metro transfer station ($28 minimum load). Metro Central at 6161 NW 61st Ave is most convenient for Portland proper. - No → Dropcurb ($79 curbside) or full-service hauler ($129+)

**Is it a mattress?** - Yes → Check Bye Bye Mattress (ByeByeMattress.com) for free drop-off recycling locations first

**Do you need same-day pickup?** - Yes → Dropcurb or 1-800-GOT-JUNK (city bulky pickup takes days) - No → City bulky pickup is cheapest if you're eligible

Portland assigns specific haulers to specific areas. Your neighbor across the street might have a different company. Look up your address at Portland.gov or call 503-823-7202. Having your hauler's direct number saved makes scheduling bulky pickup much easier.

Beyond mattress recycling (Bye Bye Mattress), Oregon offers: - **Oregon E-Cycles:** Free recycling for computers, TVs, and monitors at designated drop-off locations - **PaintCare:** Free drop-off for leftover paint at participating retail stores - **Metro Hazardous Waste:** Household hazardous waste accepted at Metro transfer stations

Metro's Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Patrol actively patrols the Portland metro for dumped garbage. Don't be tempted to leave bulky items in a parking lot, vacant lot, or beside a dumpster. Fines apply, and Portland takes illegal dumping seriously.

If you and a neighbor both need bulky items picked up, coordinating a joint request to your garbage company (if you share one) or bundling a Dropcurb order can save money for both of you.

Portland gets approximately 43 inches of rain per year, mostly between October and May. If items are sitting at the curb waiting for pickup, cover them with tarps. Waterlogged furniture is heavier, harder to handle, and more likely to be refused by donation centers.

Portland's bulky waste system isn't as straightforward as a "put it out on Tuesday and the city will take it" program. You need to know your garbage company, call to schedule, and potentially wait up to a week. The $18 base rate is genuinely affordable, but it comes with eligibility restrictions and timing limitations.

For Portland residents who want speed, simplicity, and universal availability regardless of housing type, Dropcurb fills the gap at $79 per item with on-demand scheduling.

[Book bulky item pickup in Portland with Dropcurb starting at $79 →]