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Bulk Item Collection

bulk item group with old dresser, mattresses, chair, sofa and exercise bike

Overview

Bulk waste items, such as furniture and large household items, are collected curbside weekly on your scheduled collection (same day as your garbage collection day) at residential homes in the City of Gainesville. No appointment is needed or required for the removal of bulk waste items and there is no additional cost for these collection services. However, if bulk items were not removed on your scheduled collection day, please notify the Solid Waste Division at 352-334-2330 or submit an online Missed Collection Report.

Only residential homes serviced through the City of Gainesville's Residential Curbside Service Program are eligible for this service. Debris generated from work performed by contractors (i.e., building contractors, installers, or renovators) must be hauled off by the contractor per City of Gainesville Ordinance Ch. 27-73.11.

For the collection of appliances and electronic materials for recycling, residents will need to make a collection appointment.

Bulk Waste Collection Guidelines

Residents can dispose of large household goods, such as furniture and large kid toys, by setting bulk waste items curbside for collection by 7 AM on their regular service collection days.
Place acceptable bulk waste items curbside for collection by 7 AM on your scheduled collection day (same day as your garbage collection day). No appointment is needed for bulk waste item pick up. If your bulk items are not collected on your scheduled day, be sure to report a Missed Collection online or contact the Solid Waste Division by phone.

Accepted

Furniture – sofas, couches, chairs, dressers, tables, nightstands, mattresses, box springs, and bed frames
Exercise Equipment – bicycles, treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical machines
Large Household Items – projection televisions, vacuums, ironing boards, brooms, window blinds, empty coolers and empty luggage cases.
Large Outdoor Items – patio furniture, trampolines, metal swing sets, basketball backdrop, and basketball poles. Swing sets, basketball systems and trampolines must be disassembled and placed curbside in a manner in which it is clear the equipment is being set out for disposal.
BBQ Grills – metal grills, fire pit tables, solo stoves (❌ gas tank, coals and ashes must be removed)
Large Kid Items – bicycles, riding toys, kiddie pools, playsets, car seats, walkers, and strollers
Garden Tools – rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows and old trash containers
Interior Remodeling Debris* – toilets, sinks, cabinets, carpets, rugs, shower doors, mirrors, tiles, and glass tabletops. Carpets & rugs must be set out in rolls, no longer than 5 feet in length and no more than 40 pounds each roll. Tiles, flooring, and other smaller scrap pieces must be set out in personal reusable waste containers (❌ not bags) weighing no more than 40 pounds each container and combined totaling no more than 2 cubic yards.

Not Accepted

❌ No Miscellaneous Garbage – no trash or garbage set out loose, in boxes or in plastic bags (other than waste set out in Official Yellow Bags).

❌ No Commercial or Contractor generated waste – no debris generated from work performed by contractors must be hauled off by the contactor (City of Gainesville Ordinance Ch. 27-73.11).

❌ No Exterior Home Materials – no pallets or wooden crates, pressure treated wood or planks, wooden swing sets, fencing, deck boards, storage sheds, outbuildings, doghouses, blocks, concrete, bricks, exterior drywall, shingles, gutters, well tanks, pool liners, pool pumps, pool filters, garage doors, windows or metal drums.

two wooden pallets with a red x over them meaning no pallets

❌ No Large Miscellaneous Items – no pool tables, hot tubs, spas, above ground pools, pool covers, pool liners, diving boards, tents, canopies, camping equipment, pianos or organs. Small kiddie pools are okay.

❌ No Small Miscellaneous Items – no flowerpots, garden hoses, clothes, small appliances or other waste which could fit inside your garbage cart or inside an Official Yellow Bag.

❌ No Gas Engine Equipment or Car Parts – no lawn mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, power tools, car bumpers or tires.

black car tire with a red x over it meaning no tires

❌ No Hazardous Waste – no paint, propane tanks (even if empty), auto batteries or fluorescent tubes.

Pro Prep Tips

Place masking tape in a grid pattern across large glass items, such as glass tabletops, shower doors, and mirrors. This will help prevent the glass from shattering during collection.
Carpets & rugs must be set out in rolls, and each roll can be no longer than 5 feet in length and weigh more than 40 pounds.
Large outdoor items, such as basketball hoops, trampolines, and swing sets, will need to be disassembled into smaller pieces and concrete removed from the post. (❌ No pressure treated wood)
Place smaller interior remodeling debris pieces (such as broken tiles and wood scraps) in personal reusable waste containers.
Flatten or pull nails from boards.
For items placed curbside for bulk collection that are in working order or in good condition, consider placing a sign on them, such as “Still Works!” This might encourage someone to take and reuse this item, thus preventing it from going to the landfill. As they say, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.”
Large foam blocks (like the packing material that comes with a new tv or computer) can be collected with other bulk items set out for pick up. Please be sure to place heavier items on top to prevent the blocks from blowing away. ❌ Foam blocks on their own should not be set out for collection.

Allow at least 4 feet of clearance between your garbage cart and any bulk waste items set out for collection.
Set your bulk items within four (4) feet from the curb or the traveled edge of the road. Items set back more than four (4) feet cannot be collected.
Interior remodeling debris generated from “Do-It-Yourself” projects are limited to no more than 2 cubic yards per week, no pieces longer than 5 feet in length, or no piece weighing more than 40 pounds. Smaller interior remodeling debris piece (tiles, flooring and wood scraps) must be set out in personal reusable waste containers (❌not bags) weighing no more than 40 pounds per container. Insulation must be rolled up into bundles or containerized.

❌ Personal reusable waste containers does not include orange or blue recycle bins. Orange and blue recycle bins are provided to households for the sole purpose of holding bottles, cans, cardboard, and other papers for recycling collection. The City of Gainesville reserves the right to remove recycle bins not used for their intended purpose.

What Day is Bulk Waste Picked Up in My Area?

Residential bulk waste is collected within the City of Gainesville on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. To find out the collection day for your address, click on the map below.

Tuesday (Blue), Wednesday (Green), Thursday (Pink)

Donating Your Furniture

used set of table and chairs Give Your Furniture A Second Life By Donating It. Furniture in good condition can be donated to one of many local reuse outlets. Items can be dropped off or, in some cases, collected from your home by a charity or non-profit.

Benefits of donating furniture can be beneficial for both you and your community:

Stress Free – Selling furniture online or hosting a garage sale can be time-consuming; however, donating furniture is often quick. Some organizations can even arrange to pick up items from your home at no cost to you.
Stimulates Reuse Market – Your donated furniture helps to provide inventory for local reuse outlets and keeps these nonprofits financially afloat.
Tax Advantages – Save money on your income taxes by writing off donations to accredited nonprofits. Don’t forget to get a receipt when donating your items.
Lend a Hand – While a set of mismatched dining room chairs or an old bedroom dresser may no longer serve your needs, these items could be exactly what other people need at an affordable price.
Good for the Environment – Expanding furniture's useful lifespan helps reduce the impact on our environment and prevents materials from going to the landfill.

For a list of local reuse outlets, visit our Zero Waste Wizard.