How to get rid of bulky junk in San Bernardino, CA
If you live in the City of San Bernardino, start with the free option: every resident gets two free Burrtec bulky-item pickups a year, up to five items each time, and that includes mattresses, couches, and fridges. Call Burrtec at least a week before your trash day. If you'd rather haul it yourself, mattresses go free to state-program drop-off sites nearby, and the county landfill in Rialto charges a flat $13.71 for small household loads.
- City resident with Burrtec trash service: call Burrtec at 909-804-4222 with your item list. Two free pickups a year, up to 5 items each.
- Mattress or box spring, today, free: drop it at a Bye Bye Mattress site such as CR&R in Colton or Burrtec's West Valley facility in Fontana (table below).
- Mixed junk you can haul yourself: Mid-Valley Landfill in Rialto or San Timoteo Landfill in Redlands, $13.71 for up to 300 lb of ordinary household waste. Cover your load or the fee doubles.
- Can't lift it? Paid haulers are listed further down. Get the total price in writing first.
1. Burrtec bulky-item pickup (free, city residents)
City of San Bernardino / Burrtec curbside bulky-item collection
- Cost: the city says "All San Bernardino residents receive two free bulky-item collection services, up to 5 items each time, by Burrtec."
- Accepted (city's list): scrap metal, wood, old appliances, furniture, televisions, computer monitors, refrigerators or freezers, tree branches, mattresses, and tires (limit 2).
- Not accepted: concrete, rock, dirt, or construction and demolition materials.
- How to book: call Burrtec at 909-804-4222 with a list of your items, and they give you the pickup date. Contact them at least one week before your regular collection day.
- Burrtec office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (per the city). Email listed by the city: citysbadmin@burrtec.com.
- More than 2 pickups or more than 5 items? The city's pages don't publish a price for extra collections. Unverified: ask Burrtec for the charge before you book.
Sources: sanbernardino.gov: Keep SB Clean, Integrated Solid Waste Management Division, Burrtec: San Bernardino (City) · last checked 2026-11-07
Step by step
- Make sure your trash is billed by Burrtec for the City of San Bernardino (Burrtec serves many nearby cities under separate contracts with different rules).
- Write down every item, for example "one queen mattress, one box spring, one couch."
- Call 909-804-4222 at least a week before your trash day and get the confirmed pickup date.
- Set the items out for that date only. Leaving junk out without a scheduled pickup can be reported as illegal dumping.
Community Dump Days (free, residents)
The city's Public Works page says there are 11 Community Dump Days a year, held with Burrtec, and that they "usually take place the last Saturday of the month, except for November due to the holiday." The schedule PDF the city links lists past events from 8:00 to 11:00 AM at parks such as Perris Hill Park and Seccombe Lake Park, and accepts appliances, mattresses, tires, broken furniture, tree limbs, and e-waste such as printers and TVs.
- Bring: proof of residency (driver's license, a gas, electric, or water bill, or a Burrtec bill).
- Not allowed: hazardous materials (paint, oil, batteries, chemicals), construction materials (concrete, brick, drywall, roofing), and commercial vehicles, including enclosed U-Haul or rental moving trucks.
- Dates: the schedule PDF linked from the city page on 2026-11-07 still showed 2024 dates, so we don't list upcoming dates. Call Burrtec or the city (SB Direct, 909-998-2000) for the current schedule.
Sources: Public Works Operations & Maintenance Division, Community Dump Day Schedule (PDF) · last checked 2026-11-07
2. Free mattress drop-off sites (Bye Bye Mattress)
California's mattress recycling program, Bye Bye Mattress, lists these sites near San Bernardino where residents can leave mattresses and box springs at no cost. Limits and hours vary, and some sites may need an appointment. Call before you drive. Also, California mattress retailers must offer to take your old mattress back free when they deliver a new one, so ask when you order.
| Site | Address | Phone | Hours (as listed) | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR&R – Inland Regional Material Recovery Facility (Colton Disposal) | 2059 E. Steel Rd., Colton | 909-370-3377 | Mon–Fri 7:00 AM–4:30 PM; Sat 7:00 AM–4:00 PM | 10 units |
| Burrtec – West Valley MRF | 13373 Napa St., Fontana | 909-899-0911 | Mon–Fri 7:00 AM–6:00 PM; Sat 7:00 AM–3:00 PM | Not listed (free for residents) |
| MAT Recyclers – Rancho Cucamonga | 9669 Hermosa Ave., Rancho Cucamonga | 909-395-3220 | Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–3:30 PM | 5 units for residents; listed $3 incentive per mattress |
Source: Bye Bye Mattress: Find a Location · last checked 2026-11-07. Retailer take-back rule: CleanLA mattress recycling page (statewide law) · last checked 2026-11-05
3. Dumps: county landfills and fees
San Bernardino County landfills closest to the city
| Site | Address (as published) | Hours (as published) |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Valley Landfill | 2390 Alder Avenue, Rialto | Mon–Fri 7:00 AM–5:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| San Timoteo Landfill | 31 Refuse Road, Redlands | Mon–Sat 8:00 AM–5:00 PM |
Fees at all county sites (the county page says pricing effective July 1, 2023, and it was still posted on 2026-11-07):
- Up to 300 lb of ordinary residential waste: $13.71
- 301 lb or more: $61.49 per ton, prorated
- Tires (rollable, off the rim, up to 9 per load): $5.31 each
- Add-on hard-to-handle or special handling fee: $53.14 per ton, minimum $26.57 for loads under 2,000 lb
- Payment: cash, Visa, or MasterCard. Cash fees are rounded to the nearest dollar.
What the county accepts: refrigerators are accepted only with no Freon left in them. Not accepted: paint and hazardous waste, liquids, sealed containers, items over 10 feet long at landfills (4 feet at transfer stations), batteries and fluorescent tubes, and waste from outside San Bernardino County.
Sources: County Public Works: Disposal Cost & Fees, Landfill Locations and Hours, Can I take it to the landfill? · last checked 2026-11-07
4. Paint, batteries, TVs, and other hazardous items
San Bernardino County Fire Household Hazardous Waste, central facility
S.B. International Airport, 2824 East "W" Street, Bldg. 302, San Bernardino. Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Accepts sharps and e-waste. Limit: containers up to 5 gallons, 15 gallons or 125 lb per trip. Call 909-382-5401 or 1-800-OILY-CAT (645-9228) to confirm hours before you go.
Sources: sanbernardino.gov: Household Hazardous Waste, County Fire: Collection Facilities · last checked 2026-11-07
5. Paid pickup: local haulers vs national chains
Paid pickup makes sense if you've used your two free Burrtec pickups, can't get items to the curb, or need them gone this week. Always get the full price in writing, including disposal, before the crew arrives.
LoadUp (national, booked online)
Published starting prices: mattress removal from $85, couch removal from $85, refrigerator removal from $115, box spring add-on from $15. Same-day pickup is offered when booked by 2 PM, and availability varies by location. Your final price depends on your ZIP code and the job.
Sources: LoadUp mattress removal, couch removal, refrigerator removal · last checked 2026-11-07
1-800-GOT-JUNK? and other franchise haulers
We couldn't find a published San Bernardino price. These companies quote per job, usually by volume. Price unconfirmed. Compare their written quote against the free Burrtec pickup before you book.
Local independent haulers
We don't list individual San Bernardino haulers yet. Small local haulers often quote from a photo by text. Ask three things: the total price in writing, whether dump fees are included, and where the items go. A hauler that leaves your couch in an alley can leave you with the illegal dumping problem.
6. Renting a dumpster in San Bernardino
For a few bulky items, the free Burrtec pickup is cheaper than any dumpster. For a bigger cleanout, the city says it contracts with Burrtec for solid waste collection and that these are mandatory services, so call Burrtec (909-804-4222) first to ask about a temporary bin and whether an outside dumpster company is allowed to place one in the city. We haven't verified Burrtec's roll-off prices for San Bernardino.
Hidden fees to ask about before you sign, with any company:
- How many tons are included, and the overage price per ton. The county landfill itself charges $61.49 per ton, so compare that to what you're quoted.
- Extra-day rental fees if you keep the bin longer.
- Charges for prohibited items (tires, mattresses, appliances, paint) found in the bin.
- Trip or "dry run" fees if the driver can't reach the drop spot.
Public BBB complaints describe customers billed weight charges after pickup, for example on the BBB complaints page for one dumpster broker. Get the included tonnage and overage price in writing.
Source: Integrated Solid Waste Management Division, County fees · last checked 2026-11-07
Don't dump it
Report illegal dumping to SB Direct at 909-998-2000 or through the city's online portal or Go San Bernardino app. With two free pickups a year, the legal route is usually also the cheapest.