Donate and recycle first — dispose last. Where to take furniture, appliances, mattresses, electronics, metal, and renovation debris across the five boroughs (plus nearby Westchester).
About cost: most NYC transfer stations price by weight and don't post rates online — you call for a quote, and it shifts with the market. These guidelines are about where to go and what they take, not exact prices. Every load you donate or scrap is weight you don't pay to dump — so divert first.
If it's usable, these places will take it off your hands — often with free pickup, always cheaper than the scale.
Match the load to the right site — a mixed household cleanout does not go where clean fill goes.
NYC's Business Integrity Commission licenses trade-waste hauling. A full Trade Waste license covers other businesses' waste including C&D; a self-hauler registration covers your own non-C&D waste; C&D-only work has its own registration. Get the right one before you carry.
The CWZ program (zoned carters) does not cover on-call bulk junk removal — a cleanout customer isn't forced onto a zone carter. Ongoing weekly trash collection is different.
EPA Section 608 requires refrigerant recovery before disposal of fridges, freezers, and AC units — and the scrap yard needs a signed statement (a sticker isn't enough). Venting is illegal.
Covered electronics have been banned from NY landfills and the trash since 2015 — they must be recycled.
BIC-licensed/registered haulers keep vehicle inspection and worker-time records (multi-year retention). Keep your scale tickets too.
For informational purposes only. These are general guidelines to help you plan a run — not an official disposal guide or legal advice. Hours, accepted materials, fees, and rules change often and vary by load, so always confirm directly with the facility and follow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.