Junk disposal in New York City, NY: mattresses, couches, furniture, appliances, TVs & electronics, paint & hazardous waste
Here's how to legally get rid of bulky junk in New York City, item by item. Every option links to the official city or county page we checked. Where we couldn't verify something, we say so. Check the linked page or call your city's service line.
Quick answer by item
| Item | Best verified option |
|---|---|
| Mattress | Free curbside, must be sealed in a plastic bag |
| Couch / furniture | Free curbside as a bulk item (up to 6 per day) |
| Fridge / AC (freon) | Free DSNY CFC removal, by appointment |
| TV / computer | Illegal to trash; use drop-off sites, events or take-back |
| Paint / chemicals | Special Waste Drop-Off sites or SAFE events |
Mattresses and box springs
Mattress short answer: NYC's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) takes mattresses free at the curb, with no appointment, but the mattress or box spring must be sealed in a plastic bag first. Put it out between 6 PM and midnight the night before your trash-only collection day.
Mattress options at a glance
DSNY curbside large-item collection (no appointment)
Cost: Free curbside removal for NYC residents · Type: City pickup
Mattresses, box springs, and futons go out with trash on your trash-only day (not your recycling day), curbside between 6 PM and midnight the evening before collection. Up to 6 bulk items per collection day. DSNY says pick-up appointments are no longer offered. source
Mandatory plastic bag for mattresses and box springs
Cost: Bag is on you (the City does not provide bags) · Type: City rule
Mattresses and box springs must be fully sealed in a plastic bag before set-out (any color except red or orange, per NYC311) to prevent the spread of bed bugs. Improperly set-out mattresses may not be collected and can be fined. DSNY's collection-laws page lists $50 / $100 / $200 for first / second / third-and-later offenses; its furniture page says fines can be up to $300. Check the linked pages for the current amount. source
Step by step: free DSNY curbside pickup
- Buy a mattress bag. The City doesn't provide them. NYC311 says they're sold at department stores, home improvement stores, and moving supply centers.
- Seal the mattress or box spring completely in the plastic bag. NYC311 says any color except red or orange is fine.
- Check your trash-only day (not your recycling day).
- Set it at the curb between 6 PM and midnight the evening before collection. Keep it out of the street and clear of pedestrian traffic and your neighbors' frontage.
- Max 6 bulk items per collection day.
Bed frames
NYC311 treats bed frames as bulk items. If the frame is in pieces, tie the pieces into bundles no larger than 2 x 4 feet.
What not to do
- Don't set out an unbagged mattress: it may be left behind and you can be fined.
- Don't put it out on your recycling day.
- Don't expect DSNY to schedule a pickup. Appointments are no longer offered for regular large items.
Need it gone today / can't carry it downstairs?
DSNY only collects from the curb. If you need someone to carry it out of an apartment, a paid junk-removal service is the fallback (see the box above).
Sources: DSNY Large Items; DSNY Furniture, Mattresses & Rugs; DSNY Collection Laws for Residents; NYC311 Mattress or Box Spring Disposal. Checked 2026-10-12. Rules change, so confirm with 311 before you set anything out.
Couches and furniture
Couches, bed frames, bookcases, desks, dressers, tables and chairs are bulk items with free curbside removal: mostly-metal or rigid-plastic items go out with recycling, everything else with trash (on a trash-only day). Up to 6 large items per collection day; DSNY no longer offers pickup appointments for these. (DSNY Furniture, Mattresses & Rugs; DSNY Large Items)
Appliances (fridges, freezers, AC: freon)
Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and water/wine coolers need a CFC (Freon) removal appointment, which is free for residents. Book through 311 or DSNY's online form (no same-day appointments; up to 10 appliances). Remove hinges and locks from fridges/freezers and set the appliance at the curb, back facing the street, after 6 PM the night before. DSNY tags it and collects tagged items on your next recycling day. DSNY cannot collect newer appliances with R600a or R32 refrigerant (yellow flame warning sticker). For those, contact the manufacturer or a private carter. (DSNY CFC Removal)
TVs, computers and electronics (e-waste)
It's illegal to put certain electronics (TVs, computers and other covered e-waste) in the trash or recycling. Options: retail/nonprofit drop-offs, Community E-Waste Events, a Special Waste Drop-Off site (one per borough, Tue–Sat 9 a.m.–3 p.m.), a SAFE Disposal event, manufacturer take-back, or ecycleNYC if your building has 10+ units. (DSNY Electronics & E-Waste; Special Waste Drop-Off)
Paint and household hazardous waste
Special Waste Drop-Off sites (Bronx/Hunts Point, Brooklyn/Greenpoint, Manhattan/Pike Slip, Queens/College Point, Staten Island/Fresh Kills; Tue–Sat 9–3) take paint (up to 5 gallons per visit), aerosols, batteries, motor oil, fluorescent bulbs and more. You may be asked for proof of NYC residency. For small amounts of paint, DSNY says to let it dry (or absorb it) and put it in the trash; empty dry cans go with recycling. Household chemicals can go to a SAFE Disposal event; see DSNY's page for the rules for "DANGER – Corrosive/Flammable" products. (Special Waste Drop-Off; Harmful Household Products)
Rules, hours and fees change. Confirm on the linked official page before you set anything out or drive anywhere.
Last verified: 2026-10-12