Donate and recycle first — dispose last. Where to take furniture, appliances, mattresses, electronics, metal, and renovation debris in the city.
SF is one of the priciest places in the country to dump, and the city has strict landfill-diversion rules — so diverting to donation, reuse, and scrap isn't just cheaper, it's expected. Costs are by weight and change yearly; these guidelines are about where to go and what they take, not exact prices. Almost everything routes through Recology's transfer station — divert what you can before you hit the scale.
Reuse outlets shift often in SF, so confirm before a run — but these are the go-tos.
You need an SF Business Registration Certificate, and any truck collecting or transporting trash, recycling, or compost in SF must have a Refuse Collection Truck permit (inspected by the Dept. of Public Health).
SF requires mixed C&D from a jobsite to go to a city-Registered Facility and to meet a high diversion standard (≈65%+, more for full demolition). Hauling jobsite C&D generally needs an SF Environment transporter permit — moving only source-separated material for reuse is exempt.
SF's mandatory recycling & composting ordinance requires recycling, compost, and trash to be kept separate — you can't lawfully mix an SF-generated load and landfill it.
Recology holds the city franchise for ongoing refuse collection. A one-time junk load-out to the transfer station is the accepted model for independents; taking over a customer's weekly trash collides with the franchise.
EPA Section 608 requires refrigerant recovery before disposal — venting is illegal, and the disposer needs documentation that it was done.
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.