Where to throw away furniture in Cincinnati, and when a dumpster beats the city’s 5-item limit

The couch finally needs to go. So does the dresser with the sticky drawer, the recliner nobody has sat in since 2019, and the mattress from the guest room. Here’s where all of it can go in Cincinnati — what the city picks up for free, what it won’t touch, and when renting a dumpster is the faster, simpler answer.

Quick answer

• Five or fewer big items, and you get City of Cincinnati trash service: schedule a free bulk item pickup through 311.
• Small pieces under about 45 lbs: put up to 3 next to your carts on regular trash day. No appointment needed.
• More than five items, a full room or house, or you live in a suburb: rent a dumpster and load it on your own schedule.
• A pickup-truck load you’d rather haul yourself: drop it at Winding Creek Recycling in Batavia, weekdays, across the scale by 4:30 PM.

Option 1: City of Cincinnati bulk item pickup (free, 5 items max)

If your home gets City of Cincinnati garbage collection, the city will pick up large items for free. The rules, from the city’s Public Services and 311 pages:

• Who qualifies: homes that get City trash service. The 311 request page limits it to residential addresses of 4 units or fewer inside city limits. If a private hauler picks up your trash, you’re not eligible.
• How many items: up to 5 bulk items per household per appointment. Put out a sixth and it gets left behind — and setting out more than 5 can earn the property owner a citation.
• How to schedule: by appointment only. Request it online through 311Cincy, in the 311Cincy app, or by calling 311 or (513) 765-1212. You get your pickup date when you submit the request.
• Pickup day: either your regular collection day or a Friday.
• When to set it out: the night before your pickup — not earlier. Items put out sooner can get the property owner a citation. If they’re not at the curb when the truck comes, you have to reschedule.
• Where to put it: at the curb, ideally on the driveway apron, where the truck’s claw arm can reach it. Keep it clear of low wires, branches and parked cars, and don’t stack trash bags on it.
• Prep: tape an X across glass and tape over sharp edges. You don’t need to take furniture apart.
• What counts as bulk: couches, mattresses and box springs, dressers, refrigerators, washers and dryers, water heaters.

What the city won’t take, curbside or bulk: construction debris, lumber, concrete, tires and rims (those have their own request), batteries, auto parts, lawnmowers, gas-powered tools, grand pianos, hot tubs, liquid paint, motor oil, household chemicals, propane tanks, and anything over 6 feet tall.

If different trucks handle metal, glass and furniture, part of your pile may get picked up later in the day. The city asks you to wait until after 4:00 PM on your scheduled day before calling 311 about a miss.

Option 2: Regular trash day (small pieces only)

Items under about 45 lbs, or smaller than roughly 4 × 4 × 4 feet — a kitchen chair, a small table, a bike — don’t need a bulk appointment. The city takes up to 3 of them next to your carts each week.

Option 3: Donate or sell what’s still good

A solid wood dresser or a clean sofa can have a second life. Local charity resale shops and online marketplaces are worth a try, but most donation pickups are picky about stains, tears and pet hair. Mattresses are usually a hard no. Call first, and have a plan B for whatever they pass on.

Option 4: Haul it yourself to Winding Creek

We own Winding Creek Recycling and Disposal at 4370 Winding Creek Blvd in Batavia, and it takes household waste, furniture included. You don’t need to rent anything.

• Small loads: up to 500 lbs is $25. 500 to 1,000 lbs is $50.
• Over 1,000 lbs: household waste is $70 a ton.
• Mattresses and box springs: $10 each when you bring them across the scale.
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed weekends. Be across the scale by 4:30 PM — that’s the last load of the day.

One heads-up: our Loveland C&D Recycling yard takes construction debris only, so household furniture goes to Winding Creek.

Option 5: Rent a dumpster

This is the option for when five items isn’t close to enough.

When a dumpster beats the city’s 5-item limit:

1. You have more than five pieces. A basement, a whole living room, an estate cleanout or a move-out blows past the limit fast. A dumpster takes all of it in one go.
2. You’re not on City trash service. Suburbs, townships and apartment buildings over 4 units can’t use the city program.
3. You want it gone on your schedule. No waiting for an appointment date, no setting things out the night before, no guessing whether the truck came. Same-day if you order by noon (weekdays; limited slots, and our team confirms).
4. It’s not just furniture. Torn-out carpet, old shelving, drywall and lumber from a remodel aren’t allowed in city bulk pickup. They’re fine in a dumpster.
5. You need time. Residential rentals include 10 days. Finish early and we’ll come get it at no extra charge.

What’s included in a residential rental:

• 10 rental days. After that it’s $20 a day.
• Tonnage included with every size: 1 ton in a 10 yard, 1.5 tons in a 15 yard, 2 tons in a 20 yard, 4 tons in a 30 yard, 5 tons in a 40 yard. Over that it’s $80 a ton.
• Mattresses go in at no extra charge. They just count toward your included tonnage.
• No fuel surcharge. The price you see is the price, plus tax and any extra tons or days you use.
• Wooden driveway savers under the wheels and rails, so the steel never touches your driveway.

What can’t go in: hazardous waste, liquids, paint, chemicals, batteries, propane tanks and other sealed containers, asbestos, old tube-style TVs and monitors (flat screens are fine), fluorescent tubes and bulbs, railroad ties, and tires. A refrigerator, freezer or AC unit is fine only if it’s tagged to show the freon was professionally removed — otherwise it’s $50 each.

In the City of Cincinnati, a furniture dumpster goes on your driveway or other private property. The city only allows construction roll-offs in the street. Elsewhere in our service area, the street rules depend on your town; your town’s page or our team will tell you.

Enter your ZIP on our pricing page to see your price, or call or text (513) 600-2637. Not sure which size fits what you’re tossing? Tell us what’s going and we’ll help you pick.

Frequently asked questions

Driveway Dumpsters — veteran-owned, family-run, serving Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The best dumpster for your dollar.