Furniture, electronics and leftover paint: find the right Bay Area disposal service
Check the item, city hauler and county residency requirements separately
Recology facility in San Francisco, archive photograph from 2013. This shows the facility setting and does not mean all waste can be dropped off without checking.
Distinguish bulky pickup, electronics recycling and household hazardous waste, checking local acceptance before moving items to the curb.
A move-out clearout gets complicated when a sofa, old computer and leftover paint are treated as one load. List the items, then find each service. County household hazardous waste programs differ from city bulky pickup, and a neighbor's included pickups may not apply to your account.
Sort into three categories before booking transport
- Furniture and mattresses: contact the hauler on your trash bill about tenant bookings, item limits, fees and set-out times. Wait for confirmation before placing items at the curb.
- Computers and electronics: check the exact item on the accepted list. Small appliances, televisions and batteries may use different services; ordinary recycling-bin rules do not automatically apply.
- Paint, cleaners and other household hazardous waste: check acceptance first. Contact program staff about unknown labels, leaks or damaged items and obtain guidance before arranging drop-off.
Find official services for your home area
- San Francisco: Recology bulky pickup eligibility depends on an active residential account and housing type. Hazardous waste uses a separate HHW service.
- Peninsula: book San Mateo County HHW in advance. Confirm furniture pickup with your city's hauler.
- South Bay: Santa Clara County HHW requires appointments and residency checks. Palo Alto residents use the city program.
- East Bay: Alameda County residents can find facilities through StopWaste. Permanent facilities do not require appointments, but check opening dates and accepted items. Other counties have their own programs.
- North Bay: start with Marin HHW, while Novato has its own facility. Marin eligibility does not extend to Sonoma or Napa.
From setting down your bags to making a place feel like home. A conceptual illustration, not an actual listing.
Confirm acceptance before moving items
Photograph items and note quantities and approximate dimensions, then ask about acceptance and fees. Resident programs generally cover waste from your own household; business, contractor and collected waste need separate checks. Some drop-off addresses arrive only after booking, so use your confirmation for directions. Do not rely on an old map or assume one disposal fee covers every item.
Check items off to organize your thoughts. Your selections reset when you leave this page.
Copyable message: ask the hauler
Sample template: replace the text in brackets, review it, then send.
Hello, I need to dispose of these household items: [item, quantity, approximate dimensions]. Are they accepted, is pickup or drop-off required, and what fees and limits apply? How can a tenant arrange this? Please provide official preparation requirements and confirmed set-out or arrival instructions.
Confirm eligibility before choosing a moving date.
For other areas, use the relevant county's official source below.
Keep building your local-life checklist
Plan moving, public services and everyday errands together.
Browse more practical guidesOfficial resources and service links
Check the original sources for your circumstances. Admission prices, hours, rules, and services may change.
- Recology SF · Bulky Item Collection(opens in a new tab)
Check residential account, housing type and booking requirements.
- Recology SF · Household Hazardous Waste(opens in a new tab)
Check hazardous waste separately from bulky pickup.
- San Mateo County Health · HHW(opens in a new tab)
County resident drop-off and appointment information.
- Santa Clara County · HHW(opens in a new tab)
Check appointments, residency proof and the Palo Alto exception.
- StopWaste · Recycling & Disposal(opens in a new tab)
Find facilities and accepted items for Alameda County residents.
- Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility(opens in a new tab)
Check residential services, accepted items and opening dates.
- Novato Sanitary District · HHW(opens in a new tab)
Check Novato's own facility and dates separately.
Official sources checked September 27, 2026. This guide helps you find the right service; confirm eligibility, accepted items, appointments, fees and live status on the responsible agency's current page.
