Junk Removal in District of Columbia

Before you toss

District of Columbia disposal laws

Mattresses

District of Columbia has no statewide mattress recycling law. You can take a mattress to most landfills and transfer stations for the standard bulky-item fee (typically $20–$40), schedule municipal bulk pickup where available, or have a junk-removal company haul it (roughly $70–$120). Most charities will not accept used mattresses. Some cities require mattresses be wrapped in plastic before curbside set-out.

E-waste

District of Columbia has no comprehensive statewide electronics-recycling law, but landfilling electronics is discouraged and some localities restrict it. Recycle TVs, computers, and monitors through a certified e-waste recycler, a municipal collection event, or retailer take-back programs (such as Best Buy or Staples) rather than placing them in household trash.

Tires

District of Columbia regulates scrap tires as a special waste. Tire retailers are generally required to accept your old tires when you buy new ones, and a per-tire disposal fee (commonly $1–$5) helps fund cleanup of illegal tire piles. Whole tires are typically banned from landfills; take extras to a tire retailer, an authorized scrap-tire hauler, or a household collection event. Illegal tire dumping carries fines.

Paint

District of Columbia participates in the PaintCare product-stewardship program: leftover architectural paint, stain, and varnish can be dropped off for free at participating retailers and collection sites. Dried-out latex paint can go in the trash in many areas, but oil-based paint is hazardous waste — use PaintCare or a household hazardous waste site.

Source: editorial, verify before citing · last verified 2026-01

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