PG County Bulk Trash Pickup vs. Junk Removal: Which Should You Use?
If you live in a single-family home or townhome in unincorporated Prince George's County, you can already get rid of bulky items for free. It is worth knowing the rules before you pay anyone — including us.
How Prince George's County bulk trash pickup works now
Under the county's Clear the Curb program, households on county-contracted trash service can set out up to four bulky items a week (furniture, mattresses, carpet and similar) next to the trash cart on their regular trash day. No appointment is needed.
- Items must sit next to your trash cart. Items left anywhere else at the curb are not picked up.
- Refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washers and other large appliances, plus scrap tires, still need an appointment through PGC311 (dial 311).
- Construction and renovation debris and hazardous materials are not part of the program.
- If you live in a city or town with its own trash service, such as Bowie, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel or Hyattsville, your municipality's rules apply instead.
- Apartment and condo buildings on private trash service are not covered.
The straight comparison
| PG County Clear the Curb | Private junk removal | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free for eligible households | Quoted per job, free estimate |
| When | Your regular weekly trash day | Same or next day |
| Item limit | 4 bulky items a week | None |
| Who carries it out | You, to the curb beside your cart | The crew, from inside: basement, attic or upstairs |
| Appliances and tires | Separate PGC311 appointment | Same visit |
| Renovation debris | Not accepted | Covered |
| Apartments and condos | Not covered on private trash service | Covered |
| Businesses | Not covered | Covered |
Use the county program when…
- Your home is on county-contracted trash service (not a city, HOA or apartment contract)
- You have four or fewer bulky items this week
- You can get them to the curb beside your trash cart
- Your next trash day is soon enough
- Nothing on your list is an appliance, tires or renovation debris
If all five are true, use Clear the Curb. It is free, and paying for it would be a waste of your money.
Use a private hauler when…
- You have more than four items, such as a garage, basement or whole-house cleanout
- You have a deadline: a closing date, a lease ending, a family member arriving
- You live in an apartment or condo, or it is a business
- You cannot lift it, or it is in a basement or upstairs
- Your list includes a fridge, freezer, AC unit, renovation debris or tires
DC and Montgomery County work differently
Washington, DC: DPW collects up to seven bulk items per appointment from single-family homes and buildings with three or fewer units. You book through DC 311. Renovation materials are not accepted, and larger apartment buildings, condos and businesses need a private hauler.
Montgomery County: homes on County trash service get five bulk collections per calendar year, requested by 11:59 p.m. the day before your pickup day. Homes on private or HOA trash service are not eligible.
In much of Northern Virginia, bulk pickup runs through your private trash contractor or HOA, so check your contract first.
The hybrid approach most people miss
Split the job. Put up to four eligible items out for Clear the Curb, and pay a hauler only for what is left or what the county will not take. On a garage cleanout where the only real problem is an old fridge, that can turn a full-load job into a single-item one.
Any honest hauler will help you work that out on the phone. If they will not, that tells you something.
County rules checked October 13, 2026. Programs change, so confirm on the county pages linked above.
Need this done? We offer bulk trash pickup across 36 areas in Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia. Call (202) 534-5247 for a free, no-obligation quote.
Related guides
Quick answers
Is Prince George's County bulk trash pickup free?
Yes, for households on county-contracted trash service. Clear the Curb takes up to four bulky items a week from beside your trash cart on your regular trash day, with no appointment. Large appliances and scrap tires need a separate PGC311 appointment.
How many bulky items can I put out in PG County?
Up to four bulky items a week, placed next to your trash cart for your regular trash day. Anything beyond that waits for the following week, or you can book a private pickup.
Why will the county not take my refrigerator at the curb?
Refrigerators, freezers and AC units contain refrigerant that must be recovered before scrapping, so Prince George's County collects large appliances by PGC311 appointment rather than on your regular trash day. We can take them the same day.