The City of Richmond Hill offers curbside collection of large and bulky items as part of your regular waste service. Place items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Bulk items are collected on the same day as your regular garbage pickup.

What qualifies: Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs, desks, dressers, bed frames), mattresses, carpeting and underpad (rolled and tied), large toys, exercise equipment, barbecues (propane tank removed) and other oversized household items.

Limits: Check the City of Richmond Hill website for current item limits per collection. Items must be manageable for two workers to lift. No single item over 60 kg (132 lbs). No construction or renovation debris (drywall, lumber, tiles) at the curb.

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Remove all loose parts and bag them separately. Roll carpets and tie with string or tape. Remove doors from large appliances for safety (especially important for fridges and freezers to prevent child entrapment). Remove batteries from electronic items. Place items on your property at the curb, not blocking the sidewalk or road. If you are disposing of multiple large items over several weeks, spread them across consecutive collection days rather than putting everything out at once.

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York Region operates Community Environmental Centres (CECs) that accept a wide range of waste from residents. The closest locations for Richmond Hill residents include facilities in the broader York Region. Check york.ca for current locations, hours and accepted materials.

Accepts: Furniture, appliances (with refrigerant removed), construction debris, yard waste, scrap metal, electronics (e-waste), tires, household hazardous waste and general household waste.

Cost: Fees are based on weight and vehicle type. A car or SUV load is typically $10 to $30. A pickup truck or trailer load is $30 to $80+. Hazardous waste drop-off is free for residents.

ID required: Bring proof of York Region residency (driver's licence or utility bill with a Richmond Hill address).

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Use curbside pickup for a few large items that fit within the per-collection limit. Use the transfer station when you have more items than curbside allows, when you have construction debris (drywall, lumber, tiles, concrete) that curbside does not accept, when you need to dispose of items on your own schedule rather than waiting for collection day, or when you are doing a full-house cleanout and want to make multiple trips over a weekend.

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Companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK, Junk King and local operators in Richmond Hill come to your home, load everything onto their truck and haul it away. You point, they lift. Most companies provide a quote based on volume (how much space your items take up on the truck). Many sort items for donation and recycling so not everything goes to landfill. Same-day or next-day service is often available.

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Single item (sofa, mattress, appliance): $80 to $200 depending on size and weight.

Quarter truck load: $250 to $400. Good for a room cleanout.

Half truck load: $400 to $550. Good for a basement or garage cleanout.

Full truck load: $600 to $800+. Good for a full-house cleanout when downsizing or clearing an estate.

The cost is almost always worth it when time is a factor. If you are selling and the home needs to be cleared before staging, a junk removal company can clear the entire home in one day.

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Most junk removal companies do not accept hazardous materials (paint, chemicals, propane tanks, motor oil, asbestos), certain types of construction waste (asbestos-containing materials) or items that require environmental remediation. Confirm what is excluded when you book. Hazardous items must go to a York Region Household Hazardous Waste Depot separately.

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These appliances contain refrigerants (freon) that must be removed by a certified technician before disposal. You cannot simply put them at the curb. Options for Richmond Hill residents: have a certified HVAC technician recover the refrigerant ($50 to $150), then place at the curb or bring to a CEC. Some retailers offer haul-away when you purchase a replacement. Junk removal companies that handle appliances will coordinate refrigerant removal as part of their service.

Important: Removing the door from a fridge or freezer before curbside disposal is required for safety reasons (to prevent child entrapment).

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These appliances do not contain refrigerants and can go directly to curbside bulk pickup or a transfer station. If the appliance is in working condition, donate it instead. Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Birchmount Road in nearby Markham accepts working large appliances with free pickup. Disconnect the appliance from water, gas or electrical before disposal. Cap any gas lines.

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If you own your hot water tank (not rented), it can go to scrap metal recycling at a transfer station or be picked up by a junk removal service. If the tank is rented (common in Ontario), the rental company retrieves it when you cancel the contract or when the new homeowner assumes or cancels the rental. Check your agreement before disposing of a rental tank as there may be early termination fees.

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Most charities do not accept used mattresses. Your disposal options are curbside bulk pickup (place at the curb on your collection day, wrap in plastic if possible to prevent waterlogging), drop-off at a York Region CEC or junk removal service pickup ($80 to $150 for a single mattress).

Many mattress retailers offer haul-away of your old mattress when you purchase a new one (sometimes free, sometimes $30 to $50). Ask about haul-away when you buy the replacement. This is the most convenient option when timing aligns with a new purchase.

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Old TVs, computers, monitors, printers, cellphones, tablets and cables cannot go in regular waste. Drop off for free at Best Buy Richmond Hill, Staples Richmond Hill or a York Region CEC. Wipe personal data from all devices before dropping off.

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Latex and oil-based paints, stains, varnishes, paint thinners, solvents, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, antifreeze and motor oil are hazardous waste. Bring to a York Region Household Hazardous Waste Depot at a CEC. Free for Richmond Hill residents with proof of address. Never pour chemicals down the drain or put them in regular garbage.

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Propane tanks (BBQ tanks, camping cylinders) cannot go in regular waste or at the curb. Bring to a York Region CEC or return to a propane retailer for exchange or recycling. Small camping-style cylinders (1 lb) are accepted at some hardware stores. Never puncture or crush propane cylinders.

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Used tires (with or without rims) are not accepted at the curb. Bring to a York Region CEC (limited quantities per visit) or return to a tire retailer. Most tire shops in Markham accept old tires when you purchase replacements. A disposal fee ($3 to $5 per tire) is typically included in the price of new tires.

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