If you live in Denver and need to get rid of big items, you generally have two main paths: a city program run through Denver’s Solid Waste Management division, or hiring a private junk removal company. Both are good options, but they serve very different needs.
1. Denver’s city programs
The City and County of Denver runs several waste programs through its Solid Waste Management (SWM) division. The most relevant for getting rid of big stuff is the Large Item Pickup program (sometimes still called Extra Trash), but Denver also offers separate programs that can fit specific situations.
The main city programs to know
- Large Item Pickup (formerly “Extra Trash”): Bulk pickup that occurs every nine weeks, on the same day as your regular trash collection. Up to 5 large items and up to 10 additional bags of trash per service address per cycle. Items must be out by 6 a.m. on your collection day and placed at least 2 feet from carts, cars, and obstructions. Find your schedule on the Denver Utilities Online portal or the Denver Trash and Recycling app.
- Compost and seasonal leaf drop-off: Denver runs a compost program and a fall leaf drop-off at city-designated locations. This is the right path for bagged leaves, garden waste, and yard cleanup — not the trash truck.
- Household Hazardous Waste (HHW): A separate, scheduled-appointment program (one appointment per resident per calendar year, with a small co-payment) for paints, solvents, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, pesticides, and similar items. This is where motor oil and pool chemicals go — not the curb. Note: propane tanks are typically handled separately through exchange/return locations.
- eCycle Denver: Denver supports periodic electronics recycling drop-offs for residents who need to retire TVs, computers, monitors, and similar items. Standard trash pickup typically does not take these.
- Appliance recycling: Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units contain refrigerants that must be recovered before recycling. The city has a separate appliance recycling path with a small fee in many cases.
When city pickup is the right call
- You qualify for city trash service: Generally single-family homes and small multi-family buildings on the city collection route.
- You only have a few items: Item-count limits apply per collection cycle.
- Your timing is flexible: Routes run on a published schedule, not on-demand. Depending on the cycle, your next pickup window could be days or weeks out.
- You can move it yourself: City crews collect from your normal trash point at the alley or curb. They don’t enter homes or carry items down stairs.
For the current rules, item limits, and your specific pickup schedule, the source of truth is the City and County of Denver’s Solid Waste Management website. Program details can change, and they’ll always have the most up-to-date information. Direct links are at the bottom of this page.
2. Private junk removal services
Private junk removal providers are independent businesses. When you submit a quote request through Denver Junk Help, you’re asking to be connected to one of these private, local haulers.
When private removal is the better option
- You need it gone now: Private haulers can often provide next-day or same-day service. You don’t have to wait for your neighborhood’s scheduled cycle.
- You need inside help: If an item is too heavy to move to the curb, a private crew will come inside your house, basement, or apartment to do the heavy lifting.
- You live in a large complex: Larger apartment buildings (typically 8+ units) and managed commercial properties generally don’t qualify for city collection and need a private service.
- You have a serious amount of stuff: Full property cleanouts, garage cleanings, or massive yard debris piles exceed city limits and require a private truck.
- You have items the city restricts: Private haulers will often take items that wouldn’t fit the city Large Item program — though some items (hazardous chemicals, propane tanks) need to go through HHW regardless of who’s hauling.
Quick decision guide
Most people in Denver end up in one of three buckets:
- Wait for the city. One or two large items, flexible timing, easy curbside access — the city Large Item Pickup is built for this and costs nothing extra beyond your trash bill.
- City-specific program. Hazardous chemicals or paint? Old TV or computer? Pile of leaves in November? Use the matching program (HHW, eCycle, compost / leaf drop) rather than either trash or a private hauler.
- Hire a private hauler. Urgent timing, items inside the house, more than a handful of large items, a full cleanout, an apartment building, or a commercial property — a private provider is the practical option.
Summary
If you have a single couch, live in a qualifying house, can drag it to the alley, and don’t mind waiting a few weeks — use the city service. It’s built into your trash bill.
If you have an urgent timeline, need heavy items carried out of your living room, or are dealing with a full cleanout, a private junk removal provider is the right tool for the job.