New Orleans trash & bulky-item rules
New Orleans requires residents to contact 311 for bulky waste rather than placing large items out whenever they want. The City accepts many common household bulky items, but timing and eligibility matter.
New Orleans, LA — start here
Quick answer
New Orleans provides once-weekly residential solid-waste service to eligible addresses, but bulky items require a separate 311 step. Contact 311 or (504) 539-3266 first so the material is connected to the correct collection route.
The City warns against putting bulky material out more than 24 hours before the scheduled collection day; early set-out can lead to enforcement rather than faster removal.
Furniture, mattresses and household bulky material
The City’s bulky list includes furniture, sofas, mattresses, carpet and white goods/appliances. Carpet must be rolled and tied and cut into lengths under four feet. Prepare the item according to any instructions 311 gives and keep the collection point accessible.
The service is for eligible residential customers. New Orleans specifically says small businesses are not eligible for the City bulky service.
Appliances, electronics, tires and hazardous items
Up to four tires are among the City’s listed bulky-waste examples, but a 311 large-item request is still required. Electronics, batteries, bulbs, paint, chemicals, oil and other household hazardous materials use separate recycling or HHW routes rather than ordinary curbside bulky collection.
The City’s Elysian Fields recycling drop-off accepts electronics, batteries, light bulbs, glass and several other materials on its published Saturday schedule. Household Hazardous Waste collection is limited to Orleans Parish residents and is offered on designated collection dates, so check the current City calendar before transporting paint, chemicals or other hazardous material.
Renovation debris and larger cleanouts
Construction or demolition material is not ordinary household bulky waste. Use an authorized disposal route for contractor debris or heavy renovation material.
Properties in special service areas, including parts of the French Quarter/Downtown Development District, can have different collection procedures, so verify the address before relying on general city timing.
Where to take large items in New Orleans
Use curbside/311 for furniture; special-waste and paid self-haul routes are item-specific.
Before set-out
- Verify the service address. Confirm that City of New Orleans Department of Sanitation or its listed provider actually serves the property.
Official sources
For New Orleans, 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.
- City of New Orleans — Trash / SanitationOfficial residential trash and bulky-item rules, accepted examples and 311 direction.
- City of New Orleans — Recycling Drop-OffSaturday drop-off route, electronics and special-material limits, plus HHW collection-day information. Checked October 4, 2026.
- City of New Orleans — Collection ScheduleAddress-based collection schedule and special-service-area timing. Checked October 4, 2026.