If you live in Tacoma and need to get rid of an old couch, a mattress or a broken washer, you have two good options: the city's own bulky item pickup, called Call-2-Haul, or a local junk removal company like Dash Junk Removal. Both work. The right one depends on how much you have, how fast you need it gone and whether you can get it to the curb.
How Tacoma Bulky Item Pickup (Call-2-Haul) Works
Call-2-Haul is run by Tacoma Public Utilities. According to the City of Tacoma, here is what you get:
- Two pickups or self-hauls a year are included in residential garbage rates.
- Up to three large items per pickup, such as mattresses, couches, grills, washers, dryers and refrigerators.
- Up to 15 boxes or bags of smaller items like lawn chairs, bikes or clothes.
- Items must be at the front curb by 7 a.m. on your pickup day.
- Apartments and businesses pay $115 for a single pickup or $230 for a double.
- Go over the limits and it counts as a double pickup, which uses up a residential customer's pickups for the year.
To book, call (253) 573-2468 or use your MyTPU account. The city warns it can be booked up to three weeks out.
What Tacoma Bulky Item Pickup Will Not Take
This is where a lot of people get stuck. The city does not accept:
- TVs and computer monitors
- Household garbage, recyclables or yard waste
- Hazardous waste like paint and chemicals
- Construction materials, tires, wood pallets and glass doors
For TVs, computers and monitors, E-Cycle Washington recycles them for free at drop-off sites around Pierce County.
Call-2-Haul vs. Junk Removal: Side by Side
| City Call-2-Haul | Dash Junk Removal | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Included for homes (2 a year); $115 for apartments and businesses | About $65 for one item to $950 for a full truck |
| How much | Up to 3 large items + 15 bags | As much as you have |
| Who carries it | You, to the curb by 7 a.m. | Our crew, from any room |
| How soon | Can be booked up to 3 weeks out | Same-day often available when our schedule allows |
| Remodel debris | Not accepted | Accepted (no hazardous materials) |
When the City Pickup Is the Better Deal
If you are a Tacoma homeowner with one to three big items, you can get them to the curb yourself, and you are not in a hurry, Call-2-Haul is hard to beat. You already pay for it in your garbage bill. Use it.
When Hiring Junk Removal Makes More Sense
- You have more than the limit. A garage, basement or whole room is usually way over three items.
- You cannot move it. A sleeper sofa from a third-floor apartment or a fridge from a basement is a two-person job. We do the carrying.
- You are on a deadline. Move-out dates, closings and new tenants do not wait three weeks.
- It is the wrong kind of junk. Old cabinets, flooring, drywall and fencing are a no for the city, but we haul construction debris all the time.
- You already used your two pickups for the year.
Tips for Either Option
- Take photos of what you want gone. It makes quotes and city booking easier.
- Separate paint, chemicals and propane tanks. Neither the city nor junk haulers can take them in the regular load.
- Pull out anything you might donate first.
- If you are in a nearby city like Lakewood or University Place, check your own city's rules. Call-2-Haul is for Tacoma utility customers.
Bulky Item Pickup Questions
Does the City of Tacoma pick up couches and mattresses?
Yes. Tacoma’s Call-2-Haul service picks up large items like couches, mattresses and appliances. Residential customers get two pickups or self-hauls a year included in their garbage rates, up to three large items each time.
How far ahead do I need to book Call-2-Haul?
The city says it may be booked up to three weeks in advance, so call (253) 573-2468 as early as you can.
Will Call-2-Haul take my old TV?
No. Televisions and monitors are not accepted. E-Cycle Washington recycles TVs, computers and monitors for free at drop-off sites in Pierce County.
When is a junk removal company the better choice?
When you have more than three large items, need it gone this week, cannot carry things to the curb, or have materials the city will not take, like remodel debris.
Need It Gone Sooner? Call Dash Junk Removal
If the city pickup does not fit your timeline or your pile, we can help. Send photos through our contact page or call (253) 266-0757 for a free, affordable quote. See our junk removal services or read our Tacoma junk removal cost guide to know what to expect.
