Bulk Trash Collection

Call 311, or visit 311.dc.gov, to set up an appointment before putting your bulk items out for collection.

Remember, NO MORE THAN SEVEN ITEMS will be collected per appointment.

• Once your appointment is confirmed, please place your bulk items out for collection where your trash and recycling are collected between 6:30 pm the night before your appointment and 6:00 am the day of your appointment.

*Note* You could receive a sanitation violation ticket if these items are in the public space at any time other than your collection appointment.

To protect our crews and maintain public health standards, all toilets must be wrapped in plastic before being set out for collection. This includes both porcelain and plastic toilets, as well as toilet tanks and bowls.

IMPORTANT!

• Wrap the entire unit securely in plastic sheeting or a heavy-duty plastic bag.
• Use tape or ties to seal the plastic to prevent exposure.
• Place the wrapped toilet at the curb between 6:30 pm the night before your appointment and 6:00 am the day of your appointment

*Note* This safety measure helps prevent the spread of germs and ensures safer handling for our sanitation workers. Improperly prepared toilets may not be collected.

DO NOT FLUSH OR POUR MEDICINES IN THE TOILET!

The improper disposal of contaminated sharps is a serious safety concern for garbage collectors and landfill workers. If improperly thrown in trash bags along with regular trash, these sharps can puncture the bags and cause injury. Check with your doctor, clinic, or hospital to see about a needle or “sharps” disposal program at their office. Prevent injury, illness, and pollution by following these simple steps to dispose of sharp needles and contaminated materials used when administering home health care. We want to keep you, your family, and trash collection crews safe.

• Residents can take old/expired medicine to the various drug take-back-site (check National Drug Take-Back Day.)
• Mix old/expired medicines with dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds, then put them in the trash.
• Recycle the empty bottles after marking out personal information or removing the identification label from the bottle.
• Place needles, syringes, lancets and other contaminated sharps in any puncture-resistant, resealable, disposable household container (examples include an empty bleach bottle, laundry detergent bottle, or metal coffee can). We recommend choosing a container that has a small opening so no one can stick his or her hand into it.
• Using a RED marker, write on the container -- “BIOHAZARD—DO NOT RECYCLE.” The color Red is required to indicate a biohazard waste. Used needles and other contaminated sharps are NOT recyclable.
• Do not recap, purposely bend, break, or otherwise manipulate needles before inserting them into the disposal container. Drop all parts into the container.
• Once your container is full of used needles, fill the container with one part bleach solution and ten parts of water. Allow solution to soak for 20 minutes; this action will sterilize your used sharps. Then, pour the solution into the sink and seal the cap with tape before placing the disposal container into the garbage. Use heavy-duty tape (such as duct tape).
• Dispose of the container in your regular trash but do NOT use glass or clear plastic containers.
• We recommend you place any soiled bandages, disposable sheets and medical gloves separately in securely fastened plastic bags before placing them along with your other trash. Never share used needles.

Residents can take bulk, trash, and recycling items to the Fort Totten Transfer Station, 4900 John McCormack Rd NE, Washington, DC 20011.

Solid Waste Disposal Drop-off Hours of Operation for Residents' Use:

• Tuesday – Friday: 10 am – 2 pm
• Saturday: 7 am – 2 pm

• Please be sure to have identification such as a driver's license to prove you are a District resident. If you don't have a DC driver's license, please have a photo ID issued by another state plus a current utility bill (within the last 30 days) or a copy of your residential lease or deed. The names on the photo ID and the utility bill or lease/deed must be the same.
• All waste materials must originate within the District of Columbia and facility staff reserves the right to ask for proof of origin. Acceptable vehicles include passenger cars, passenger vans, SUVs, pick-up trucks, vans less than 15 feet in length, and rental vehicles within these categories. Access will be denied to vehicles with commercial license tags, sideboards, ladders, stake-bodies, cargo vans, rental trucks longer than 15 feet, and tag-a-long trailers.
• Commercial haulers wishing to use the facility must call (202) 715-7570 to establish an account.

*Please be sure to have identification such as a driver’s license with you to prove you are a District resident. If you don’t have a DC driver’s license, please have a photo ID issued by another state plus a current utility bill (within the last 30 days) or a copy of your residential lease or deed. The names on the photo ID and the utility bill or lease/deed must be the same.

District residents can drop off many types of special waste at no cost. The location and dates for Special Waste Collection (including Household Hazardous Waste, Electronics, and documents to be shredded) can be found on the Zero Waste website.

Residents may drop off a small number of bulk trash and household recycling items on:

• Tuesday, September, 19, at Anacostia Park Skate Pavilion (1500 Anacostia Drive SE) from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September, 21, at Rock Creek Tennis Center (5220 16th Street NW) from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Please be sure to have identification such as a driver's license to prove you are a District resident. If you do not have a DC driver's license, please have a photo ID issued by another state plus a current utility bill (within the last 30 days) or a copy of your residential lease or deed. The names on the photo ID and the utility bill or lease/deed must be the same.

The Special Waste Collection Event will take place in the parking lot behind the Skate Pavilion.

All waste materials must originate within the District of Columbia and facility staff reserves the right to ask for proof of origin. Acceptable vehicles include passenger cars, passenger vans, SUVs, pick-up trucks, vans less than 14 feet in length, and rental vehicles within these categories. Access will be denied to vehicles with commercial license tags, sideboards, ladders, stake-bodies, trucks longer than 14 feet, and tag-a-long trailers.

Commercial haulers wishing to use the facility must call (202) 715-7570 to establish an account.

• Air conditioners (drain water and fluids)
• Hot water heaters
• Household furniture
• Large toys (kiddie pools, playhouses, disassembled swing sets)
• Major appliances, e.g., refrigerators (doors removed)
• Mattresses and box springs (MUST be wrapped in plastic), bed frames
• Rugs(MUST be rolled and tied)

• Bagged Waste - No plastic trash bags
• Books – Place in recycling cart for DPW collection.
• Bricks*
• Ceiling tile*
• Construction Materials*
• Demolition materials*
• Dirt*
• Drywall*
• Electronics and Televisions
• Hazardous and/or liquid waste (see special waste collections event)
• Household trash or garbage – (place in the trash can for regular DPW collection.)
• Old or broken residential recycling bins
• Old or broken residential trash Bins
• Small tree limbs – Tie and place with the regular trash. 
• Tree stumps
• Tires -- Up to four tires may be taken to the Fort Totten Transfer Station, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 am to 2 pm ONLY.
• Wooden Pallets*
• Yard Waste

*Note: Renovation materials, such as bricks, concrete, ceiling tiles, construction and demolition materials, and dirt are not accepted for bulk collections from residences. Please visit the MWCOG Builders Recycling Guide for a list of construction and demolition companies that may haul these items.*