Appliance Large or Bulky item disposal

Some appliances, large or bulky items require a permit for disposal. Residents must purchase permits from Public Works in advance to schedule pickup of the items, one permit per item. The cost of each permit is $25, or $20 for senior citizens (62+). Most items are scheduled for Wednesdays and large TVs/monitors/printers are scheduled for Thursdays. Place items close to curb edge with permit facing street. No commercial or industrial items. Metal items listed as free have to be scheduled for pickup, please call 617.349.4800 to do so.

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Additional Information

Most items are scheduled for Wednesdays and large TVs/monitors/printers are scheduled for Thursdays. Place items close to curb edge with permit facing street. No commercial or industrial items. Metal items listed as free have to be scheduled for pickup, please call 617.349.4800 to do so.

Tips and FAQs

How can residents purchase a permit?

Submitting the Online Appliance/Large Item Disposal Permit application. (if you experience difficulty with the online permit see the Troubleshooting Tips page);
In person at 147 Hampshire Street during business hours (Monday: 8:30am-8pm, Tuesday-Thursday: 8:30am-5pm, or Friday: 8:30am-12pm). Payments in person can be made by check, money order, cash or credit card;

What appliances or large items require a permit?

Air Conditioners*
Clothes Washers & Dryers
Copiers & Printers (More than 40 lbs)
Dehumidifiers*
Dishwashers
Exercise Equipment (small) & Bicycles (free, call ahead to schedule pick-up)
Larger Exercise equipment (motorized)
Lawnmowers (free, call ahead to schedule pick-up, must remove gas)
Metal Filing Cabinets & Desks (free, call ahead to schedule pick-up)
Radiators (free, call ahead to schedule pick-up)
Refrigerators* & Freezers* (must remove doors, non-commercial)
Snow Blowers (free, call ahead to schedule pick-up, must remove gas)
Stoves
TVs & Computer Monitors (Over 20" diagonal screen length)
Trash Compactors
Water Coolers & Heaters

*Freon (chlorofluorocarbons) is removed from air conditioners, dehumidifiers, freezers, and refrigerators in order to meet the Clean Air Act. All appliances are then sent to a local scrap metal recycling facility.

Are there any large or bulky items that do not require a permit?

Carpet or lumber (residential only, up to 3 tied bundles, 3' x 3' x 1')
Electronics (microwaves, stereos, box fans, small printer or fax machine)
Furniture (couches, mattresses, box springs, tables). Note that beginning September 2014, the Coalition for the Homeless will schedule free pickups of furniture in good condition from your home in Cambridge for the last Friday and the first Monday of every month, except holidays. Residents are allowed to put one piece of furniture out per week on trash day.
Toilet or Sink (one per household on collection day)
Small TVs & computer monitors (20" or less diagonal screen length). Place small TVs / monitors close to curb edge by 7am on your regular collection day.
You may include the hard drive, keyboard, mouse and small printer or fax machine.

How to dispose of appliances, furniture, large items or hazardous products

Check out our Get Rid of it Right page, cambridgema.gov/theworks, with details on how to recycle, donate or dispose of just about anything, including furniture, appliances and electronics. Note that beginning September 2014, the Coalition for the Homeless will schedule free pickups of furniture in good condition from your home in Cambridge for the last Friday and the first Monday of every month, except holidays.

Remember that recycling is mandatory in Cambridge. Please make sure to recycle glass, metal, & plastic containers, paper, cardboard, and yard waste. Do not place hazardous products in the trash and never pour them down catch basins or drains. Bring hazardous items to an upcoming hazardous waste collection day. Items accepted include paint, chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, fuels, tires, car batteries, propane tanks. Alkaline batteries may be disposed of in the trash.

Items not accepted

No TRASH
No PLASTIC BAGS (learn about the City's Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance)
No STYROFOAM
No FOOD WASTE
No Ceramics, Dishes or Glassware
No Clothes Hangers
No Electronics or Appliances
No Household Hazardous Waste
No Light Bulbs
No Paint Containers
No Paper Towels or Napkins
No Photographs or Blueprints
No Pots, Pans or Scrap Metal
No Plastic Utensils
No VCR or Cassette Tapes
No Windows, Plate Glass or Mirrors
No Yard Waste

Items that can be put out for recycling pick up

Containers

Aerosol Cans (empty)
Aluminum Cans, Trays & Foil
Glass Bottles & Jars
Metal Cans
Milk Cartons & Juice Boxes
NEW! Large Plastics (buckets, laundry baskets, toys)
Stiff Plastic Containers
NEW! Spiral Cans (potato chip, nut cans)

Papers

Books (Rip off hard covers. But, please donate books, reuse is better than recycling.)
Cardboard Boxes (Flatten / nest when possible)
NEW! Coffee Cups (empty, no Styrofoam)
NEW! Frozen Food Boxes (if it rips)
Paperboard (cereal boxes, paper towel rolls)
Phone Books & Junk Mail (remove free samples)
NEW! Pizza Boxes (empty, no food)
Newspapers & Inserts
Magazines & Catalogs
Paper Bags
Shredded Paper (in clear plastic or a paper bag)
White & Colored Paper (staples, paper clips, spirals OK)
Wrapping Paper

Street Cleaning Schedule

Here is the street cleaning schedule

If you think your car has been towed, you can search our online tow database. As a last resort, call the Police Department at 617.349.3300. You should only park on the street after the posted time on the street sweeping sign. Even though you may have seen the sweeper go by once, it may need to go by for a second pass. Also, the City's catch basin cleaning program is closely coordinated with monthly street sweeping in order to reduce additional parking disruptions, and that equipment may be scheduled during the same posted time period.