Washington trash & bulky-item rules

The DC Department of Public Works collects bulky household items by appointment from homes that already receive DPW trash service. That includes single-family homes and residential buildings with three or fewer living units. Buildings with four or more units, condominiums, co-ops and commercial properties must use a private licensed hauler.

Residents schedule through 311 or 311.dc.gov. DPW collects no more than seven items per appointment. Once the appointment is confirmed, the material goes at the normal trash/recycling collection point between 6:30 p.m. the evening before and 6 a.m. on collection day. DPW warns that material left in public space outside the appointment window can receive a sanitation violation.

Accepted bulk items include household furniture, bed frames, hot-water heaters, air conditioners, major appliances and large household toys. Mattresses and box springs must be completely wrapped in plastic, rugs must be rolled and tied, and refrigerator doors must be removed before collection.

These preparation rules matter because an otherwise eligible item can be left behind when it is not prepared safely. DC also separately requires toilets and toilet components to be securely wrapped in plastic before set-out.

Televisions and electronics are explicitly excluded from ordinary bulk collection. Household hazardous or liquid waste is also excluded. DC handles these materials through Special Waste Collection Events, where residents can bring electronics, batteries, paint, fluorescent lamps, automotive fluids, household chemicals, propane cylinders and other accepted residential material.

Special Waste events require advance registration and proof of District residency. Commercial waste is not accepted. Fort Totten does not serve as the electronics/HHW drop-off; residents should use the current Special Waste event system instead.

Tires have a narrower rule than Fort Totten's general resident hours. DPW currently says residents may bring up to four tires to Fort Totten on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only. This specific tire window should not be confused with the station's broader trash/bulk hours.

Fort Totten Transfer Station is at 4900 John McCormack Road NE. General resident drop-off is Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents need a DC driver's license, or another state-issued photo ID plus a recent utility bill, lease or deed with matching name.

Fort Totten accepts resident trash, bulk items, recycling and yard waste, but it is not a universal dump. Electronics and household hazardous waste belong at Special Waste events, and construction debris is not accepted through the residential bulk route.

Permitted resident vehicles include passenger cars, pickups, SUVs and passenger vans under 15 feet. Commercial vehicles, trailers, sideboards, ladder racks, stake bodies, cargo vans and trucks longer than 15 feet are not allowed under the resident program. Benning Road Transfer Station remains closed until further notice.

Bricks, concrete, ceiling tile, drywall, dirt and general construction/demolition material are excluded from DC residential bulk collection. A bathroom or kitchen demolition pile therefore needs an appropriate private C&D hauler or recycling facility rather than a 311 bulk appointment.

For Washington, start with the local authority links below. Recheck them before a special trip or unusual set-out because programs, prices and facility hours can change.

• DPW Bulk Trash CollectionEligibility, seven-item maximum, appointment/set-out rules, accepted items and the tire window.
• Fort Totten Transfer StationResident hours, ID rules, vehicle restrictions and Benning Road closure.
• Special Waste CollectionHHW, electronics, registration and accepted special-waste categories.