
Moving out of a Massachusetts apartment or house: what to do with everything
Checked November 8, 2026 · town facts from each town's own pages · by JUNKRUN, Melrose MA
Your move-out timeline
Four stops. Put in your real date and get dated reminders on the move-out countdown.
Step 1 · 4 weeks outSort and decide
- Read your lease and any landlord move-out sheet. Note the move-out date, key return and cleaning expectations.
- Walk every room and sort: keep, sell, donate, haul, trash. Closets, basement and storage cage count.
- Check each big item against the waste-ban list below. Mattresses, TVs and appliances can't just go out with the trash.
- Needs a street dumpster? Permits can take days; see the town list.
- Post sellable furniture and set a drop-dead date for it.
Step 2 · 2 weeks outDonate and book
- Call donation places now: ask what they take, pickup or drop-off, and their hours.
- Drop off clothing, linens, kitchenware, books. Donate before the last week, when everyone is moving.
- Look up your town's bulky-item, sticker or mattress rules and book any town pickup.
- Photograph what is left for a flat price. Book a pickup for the day after you finish packing, not the day of the move.
Step 3 · 1 week outClear the big stuff
- Haul out what is left over: furniture, mattress, appliances, TVs.
- Use up or give away food, cleaning supplies and anything that can't be moved. Take paint, batteries and chemicals to a town hazardous-waste day.
- Start cleaning rooms as they empty.
- Photograph each room with a timestamp before you pack the last things.
Step 4 · Moving dayLast look and hand back
- Walk every room, closet and cabinet. Check the fridge, oven and under the sinks.
- Take final dated photos and video of every room, floors and walls.
- Return keys in a way you can prove (receipt or a text), and send your forwarding address to the landlord in writing.
- Leave nothing at the curb unless your town says that day is OK.
What can't go in the trash
These are on MassDEP's waste disposal ban list. The ban is on disposal, so a hauler or town must send them to reuse or recycling. Full list and exceptions are on mass.gov.
- banned from disposal since Nov 1, 2022
Where it goes: Town program, retailer take-back, donate if clean, or a hauler.
- banned since Nov 1, 2022
Where it goes: Donate or use a textile bin. Bagged and dry.
- banned
Where it goes: Town electronics day, retailer take-back, or a hauler with e-waste handling.
- banned
Where it goes: Town sticker pickup, retailer haul-away, scrap, or a hauler. Refrigerants must be recovered.
- banned
Where it goes: Town yard-waste program or compost.
- banned
Where it goes: Transfer-station metal area or scrap yard.
- banned (tires: landfills only)
Where it goes: Retailer take-back or town event.
Also banned: recyclable paper and cardboard; glass, metal and plastic bottles, cans, jars, jugs and tubs; asphalt, brick and concrete; clean drywall; and wood (from landfills). Paint, batteries and chemicals have their own rules: use your town's household hazardous waste day. The mattress ban started Nov 1, 2022 and covers box springs. More: Massachusetts waste bans, explained and mattress disposal.

Get your security deposit back
The Massachusetts security deposit law is M.G.L. c. 186, section 15B (statute; mass.gov summary). This is general information, not legal advice. Read the statute or call a tenant legal aid office for your case.
- 30 days
Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord has to return the deposit, or what is left of it after allowed deductions, with any interest owed.
- Sworn and itemized
To keep money for damage, the landlord has to send you, within those 30 days, an itemized list of the damage signed under penalty of perjury, with written estimates, bills, invoices or receipts for the repair.
- Wear and tear
Reasonable wear and tear can't be charged. The statute lists the only allowed deductions: unpaid rent or water charges, certain unpaid tax increases, and repair of damage beyond reasonable wear and tear.
- Left-behind items
Furniture or trash left in the unit invites a dispute over the deposit. Clearing it out yourself takes that off the table. If anything is deducted, ask for the sworn itemized list and the bills.
What helps: dated photos and video of every room at move-out, a written forwarding address sent to the landlord, proof you returned the keys, and keeping the move-in statement of condition if you got one (damage listed on it can't be deducted later). A landlord who breaks certain deposit rules, such as not returning it on time, can owe up to three times the deposit plus interest and costs; the statute spells out when.
Donate before you haul

Furniture and building supplies. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are in many of the town files below, with the address and the donation rules each publishes. Goodwill, Salvation Army and local thrift shops also show up in our town files. Pick-up and acceptance change often, so call first.
Clothing and linens. Textiles are on the ban list, so donate them or use a textile bin instead of the trash. Bag them clean and dry.
What donation places usually don't take: stained, torn or smelly upholstery, mattresses and box springs (they have their own rules), broken furniture and anything with pests. Ask each place for its exact list.
Your town's donation spots, where we have verified them, are in the town guide for your town.
September 1 survival (Allston Christmas)
Around September 1 the Boston area moves at once, and curbs fill with furniture. Cities notice.
- Boston. The city says to put trash and recycling out by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day, or after 5:00 p.m. the night before, and that Code Enforcement will be issuing citations for improper storage of household trash. Its trash guide lists a $25 fine for early set-out and $100 to $10,000 for illegal dumping. Mattresses are by appointment: you must schedule an appointment, buildings with six units or fewer only, limit 10 a year.
- Brookline. Trash Amnesty Week comes twice a year, the weeks after Memorial Day and Labor Day: homes on town collection can put extra bags of household trash beside their carts at no cost. Apartment clean-outs and construction waste are not collected, and bulky items are booked through the town's portal. Town page.
- Cambridge and Somerville. See the town list below: Cambridge takes limited bulky items weekly, Somerville needs a paid sticker on mattresses and box springs.
Survival plan: don't leave it for the last day. Donate early, book town pickups weeks ahead, and for the rest, send a photo and book a haul-away for the 28th or 29th, or the 2nd. A reminder: junk removal in Boston, Allston-Brighton and Somerville.
Your town's rules, bulky items, mattresses, dumpsters
What each of 70 towns publishes, from the town's own pages (checked late Oct 2026 and later). Where a town publishes nothing we say so. Rules and fees change, so confirm before you set anything out. 63 towns also have a one-page printable town guide.
Home base (6 towns)
Melrose
Town guide →Bulky items: $35–$55. Bulky furniture goes out through Casella: call 1-800-227-3552 or book in the Casella app, then pay per item. Source
Mattress: $40–$65. Mattresses and box springs are recycled through Tough Stuff Recycling: schedule curbside online, or bring them to the City Yard… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $100. A dumpster on a public way or sidewalk needs a street/sidewalk occupancy permit from the Director of Public Works before… Source
Stoneham
Town guide →Bulky items: Varies. One bulk item per week under 50 lbs goes out with regular curbside trash (furniture, carpet). Anything heavier needs a call to… Source
Mattress: Varies. Mattresses are picked up at the curb through Casella (1-800-950-9293) for a special recycling charge. Call to arrange it. Source
Dumpster / street permit: $40 per dumpster. Stoneham's Board of Health issues a Short Term Dumpster Permit (up to 12 months) that must be posted at the dumpster. Check with… Source
Wakefield
Town guide →Bulky items: $20 sticker per item. Bulky items go out on your regular trash day with a $20 town sticker on each item. No advance scheduling is needed. Source
Mattress: $60 per unit. Mattresses and box springs must be recycled. The town uses HandUp: schedule a pickup online or by phone and set the unit out by 7… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $75. A dumpster in the street or blocking a sidewalk needs a right-of-way permit from the DPW Engineering Division. A dumpster on… Source
Malden
Town guide →Bulky items: Bulky items, white goods and other exceptions to normal curbside pickup are handled through the city's Waste Wizard lookup or by… Source
Mattress: Malden does not collect mattresses with regular trash. It lists private vendors (ABH Services, Classic Cleanouts, HandUP, Junk… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Medford
Town guide →Bulky items: $15 per item. WM collects bulky household items like furniture and rugs at the curb on your recycling day for a per-item fee. Call WM to… Source
Mattress: $55. The city partners with HandUp for curbside mattress and box spring recycling, by appointment, twice a month. Source
Dumpster / street permit: The Engineering Division issues sidewalk occupancy permits, applied for online. The city page does not spell out dumpster or POD… Source
Lynnfield
Town guide →Bulky items: $10. Buy a bulky-item sticker at the DPW office, stick it on the item before it goes out on trash day, and it is picked up curbside.… Source
Mattress: Costs start at $50. Mattresses and box springs cannot go in the trash or curbside. The town points residents to ABH Services, Inc., which schedules… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Inner north + Mystic Valley (6 towns)
Somerville
Town guide →Bulky items: Free. Furniture and bulky items are a free city service limited to two items per week, placed curbside with trash. Large quantities of… Source
Mattress: $55. Starting Feb 1, 2026, each mattress and each box spring needs a $55 disposal sticker, then a 311 pickup request. Only households… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Everett
Town guide →Bulky items: Free. Free curbside bulk item pickup is offered only during the city's holiday overflow weeks (up to 3 items, each needing a City of… Source
Mattress: $45–$70. All mattresses and box springs must be recycled. Pay at the Collector's Office in City Hall (cash only); the clerk gives you a… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Arlington
Town guide →Bulky items: WM collects bulky items at the curb for a fee; residents contact WM to pay and schedule a pickup day. The town also lists a free… Source
Mattress: $55. Mattresses and box springs must be recycled (state law). Both options cost $55 per piece, any size: drop off at the Reuse &… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $100. A dumpster placed on a street, sidewalk or public way needs a permit from the Town (Building Department, 781-316-3392, per a… Source
Belmont
Town guide →Bulky items: $40 per bulky item. Curbside bulky pickup by Waste Management is by appointment and paid per item. Schedule by 1pm the business day before your trash… Source
Mattress: $50. Mattress and box spring pickup is a separate town program run through DPW once a month on a Tuesday. Book and pay with DPW before… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Cambridge
Junk removal →Bulky items: Varies. Furniture such as couches and tables: one piece per week can go out on trash day, with some exceptions. Large appliances, big TVs… Source
Mattress: $5–$45. Mattresses and box springs are banned from trash in Massachusetts. The City runs a pickup program with its contractor UTEC (a… Source
Dumpster / street permit: A dumpster placed on a City street needs two things: a Dumpster License from Inspectional Services (831 Mass Ave, 617-349-6100)… Source
Chelsea
Junk removal →Bulky items: The city's trash page links a 'Trash fees & removal fees for larger items' PDF, which could not be read. Appliances and TVs need… Source
Mattress: $25–$40. Mattresses and box springs are banned from trash. City trash customers pay $25 per mattress or box spring (since Feb 1, 2026) for… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
North Shore (12 towns)
Lynn
Town guide →Bulky items: $20–$22. Curbside furniture pickup is by appointment with Capitol Waste Services at a per-item fee. The city also holds free Bulky Item… Source
Mattress: $35. Mattresses and box springs are banned from trash and are no longer accepted at Bulky Item Days. The city contracts Tough Stuff… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Revere
Town guide →Bulky items: $5–$25. Bulky items are collected curbside only after you apply online at revere.org/permitting (Bulk Item Pickup). Only items on your… Source
Mattress: $75 per piece. Mattresses are no longer picked up curbside (since December 1, 2024). They can be dropped off at the DPW Yard on the last… Source
Dumpster / street permit: A Temporary Dumpster/Pod permit from DPW is applied for online at revere.org/permitting ('Dumpster/Pod Permit (DPW)'). Permits… Source
Saugus
Town guide →Bulky items: $2. Bulky curbside items need a Town sticker. Each unit gets two Green Sticker items per pickup, bought at Town Hall or Stop & Shop… Source
Mattress: Mattresses and box springs are banned from the trash under the Massachusetts DEP rule (since Nov 1, 2022). The Town does not… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Peabody
Town guide →Bulky items: Free. One bulk item per week can go out at the curb with regular trash and recycling, no charge and no sticker. Counts: sofa, loveseat,… Source
Mattress: $20. Mattresses and box springs need a $20 disposal sticker for each piece and are not picked up at the curb. Residents bring them to… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Danvers
Town guide →Bulky items: $20 sticker per item. Curbside bulky pickup needs a sticker on each item: furniture, carpet, major appliances, gas grills, lawn equipment, TVs and… Source
Mattress: $40. Mattresses and box springs are not part of the bulky program. The town partners with UTEC for curbside pickup twice a month; book… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $50. The Public Health Dumpster Permit covers dumpsters at businesses and at residential properties with four or more units. Locations… Source
Middleton
Town guide →Bulky items: $50 per bulk item. Bulky items (sofas, headboards, recliners, dressers, desks, day beds, carpet) are accepted at the Transfer Station with a… Source
Mattress: $60. Mattresses and box springs are accepted at the Transfer Station with a per-piece mattress sticker. Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Topsfield
Town guide →Bulky items: Bulk items $20 each. Curbside bulky and white-goods collection happens on four set Fridays a year. You register and pay online by 8 am the Thursday… Source
Mattress: Mattresses cannot go out with curbside trash or the bulky collection; they get a rejection sticker and are not picked up. The… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Winthrop
Town guide →Bulky items: $10. Furniture goes out curbside with a Bulk Item Sticker (orange, $10 per item; a sectional needs one per piece). Anything over 23… Source
Mattress: Varies. Mattresses and box springs are banned from town trash and bulk pickup since 11/1/2022. The town's hauler, Capitol Waste Services,… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $100–$120. Dumpsters need a permit from the Board of Health through Inspectional Services. The owner must also contact Public Works before… Source
Salem
Town guide →Bulky items: $20 per item, paid to WM. Bulk items that do not fit in the cart (furniture, carpet rolls, doors, toilets) are collected by WM on your recycling week. Book… Source
Mattress: $40. Mattresses and box springs cannot go in the trash (Massachusetts ban since Nov 1, 2022). The city contracts UTEC for curbside… Source
Dumpster / street permit: The 2026 city government card lists the dumpster permit under Inspectional Services, 98 Washington St, 2nd Floor, 978-619-5641.… Source
Beverly
Town guide →Bulky items: $20–$150. One bulky item per week, booked and paid directly with Casella (800-227-3552, online or app). Weight limit 200 lb per item. Most… Source
Mattress: $22–$30. Mattresses and box springs are banned from the trash and are not accepted as a bulk item (MassDEP rule since Nov 1, 2022). The… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $10 permit fee. The Fire Department issues a permit for the keeping and use of a construction dumpster on the property (Standard Permit FP-006,… Source
Marblehead
Town guide →Bulky items: $5–$320. No curbside bulky pickup. The regulation defines bulk waste as furniture, mattresses and appliances too large for a cart and says… Source
Mattress: $40–$85. Mattresses and box springs are bulk waste and go to the Transfer Station. Each mattress and each box spring is one item. Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Swampscott
Town guide →Bulky items: $20–$80. Bulk pickup is booked and paid directly with Republic Services at 781-289-0500, by credit card at scheduling. Items may go… Source
Mattress: $30. Mattresses and box springs are collected on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. Pay the town fee first, set the item at the… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $15. Roll-off dumpsters need a Temporary Dumpster Permit from the Health Department at Town Hall; the permit lasts 45 days and the… Source
93 + 128 corridor (8 towns)
Reading
Town guide →Bulky items: Varies. Bulky items go through Republic Services by appointment: call to pay and schedule before putting anything out. Source
Mattress: $33–$65. The town contracts Tough Stuff Recycling: $65 per unit for curbside pickup or $33 per unit dropped off at the DPW garage.… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
North Reading
Town guide →Bulky items: Free. One bulky item (including CRTs) per week is picked up at the curb at no charge, but you must call Casella to schedule it. Source
Mattress: $40. UTEC curbside pickup, twice a month. Schedule and pay UTEC online (since May 15, 2024); item at the curb by 7 am; drivers will… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Town bylaw requires written permission from the Director of Public Works to place materials or temporary structures on a public… Source
Winchester
Town guide →Bulky items: $10–$20. Bulky items go to the Transfer Station with a resident permit, plus per-item fees for couches, rugs, appliances, TVs and tires.… Source
Mattress: $30–$40. Resident drop-off at the Transfer Station. No curbside pickup is listed. Winchester Transfer Station, 781-721-7178. Source
Dumpster / street permit: $50–$200. A temporary dumpster permit from the Health Department (Board of Health) is required for a dumpster on your property or the… Source
Woburn
Town guide →Bulky items: $28.35–$29.77. Bulky items like couches, chairs, dressers and exercise equipment are picked up at the curb by Waste Management for a per-item… Source
Mattress: $40 per unit (UTEC). UTEC curbside (city's listed partner), or another recycler. Call UTEC 978-856-3997. Mattress and box spring each count. Tell them… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Burlington
Town guide →Bulky items: Free. Call Republic Services to schedule a bulk pickup. Some items are free and some carry a fee; check the town trash and recycling… Source
Mattress: $40. UTEC curbside; Republic stopped taking mattresses Oct 3, 2022. utecinc.org/mattress-recycling, choose Burlington, or call… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Wilmington
Town guide →Bulky items: Bulky items are picked up curbside by appointment through Casella; call to schedule and you are told when to set it out. Source
Mattress: $10–$25. Casella curbside, weekly, by appointment. Call Casella and pay by phone; they tell you the curbside day. Town pages list… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Lexington
Town guide →Bulky items: One bulky item per household per week (100 lb max) goes out with regular trash at no extra charge: sofas, recliners, lawn… Source
Mattress: $49.50. UTEC curbside, every other Friday. Book and pay in the Mattress & Box Spring tab of LexSortSmart (web or app); mattress must be… Source
Dumpster / street permit: A Board of Health dumpster permit is required in Lexington and a dumpster may not block a public way or sidewalk. Confirm the… Source
Bedford
Town guide →Bulky items: $25–$43.50. Curbside bulky furniture is collected on Mondays by appointment only, booked online or in the Recycle Coach app (no phone… Source
Mattress: $20. Mattresses and box springs are collected twice a month by appointment through UTEC, booked at utecinc.org/mattress-recycling.… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Lowell + Merrimack Valley (8 towns)
Tewksbury
Town guide →Bulky items: Free. Republic Services takes furniture at the curb for free, up to 4 items per week, but you have to call to schedule it. Source
Mattress: not stated by the town. Republic will not take mattresses or box springs because of the state disposal ban. The town sends residents to UTEC curbside… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Billerica
Town guide →Bulky items: $30. Call Waste Management (800-972-4545) to schedule a bulk pickup and pay per item; not allowed for cleanouts. Source
Mattress: $40. Mattresses and box springs must be recycled. Book UTEC online or at 978-856-3997; Waste Management no longer takes them. Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Chelmsford
Town guide →Bulky items: $35–$100. One combustible bulk item per household per month can go curbside on your trash day (not in holiday weeks). Other large items are… Source
Mattress: $30. Mattresses and box springs are collected at the curb by UTEC every other week. Book and pay online at utecinc.org. Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Lowell
Town guide →Bulky items: $23–$46. Bulky items (furniture, rugs, beds, shelves) are picked up by appointment through Waste Management, paid by phone. Call… Source
Mattress: $30. Mattresses and box springs are recycled by UTEC, who collect curbside on Wednesdays. Book online or call UTEC at 978-856-3902. Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Dracut
Town guide →Bulky items: Free. One bulky item per week is picked up free at the curb on Fridays, but you must pre-register with Casella. Mattresses, box… Source
Mattress: not stated. Mattresses and box springs are banned from trash. The town partners with UTEC (a nonprofit) for curbside pickup; call UTEC at… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Tyngsborough
Town guide →Bulky items: $15. Bulky items go out on trash day with a $15 orange bulky-item sticker (sectionals are $15 per piece), and you have to notify… Source
Mattress: Mattresses and box springs are banned from the trash and the town does not collect them. Schedule a paid curbside pickup with… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Westford
Town guide →Bulky items: $15–$100. One bulky item under 50 lbs per household per week goes out with your trash for a $15 sticker. Heavier items are picked up by… Source
Mattress: $40. Stickers can't be used on mattresses or box springs. The town runs a UTEC curbside mattress pickup every other Tuesday, booked… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Andover
Town guide →Bulky items: One bulky item per household per week goes out with your regular trash at no extra charge. Sectionals go one section at a time,… Source
Mattress: Mattresses and box springs are banned from curbside. UTEC collects them curbside every other Tuesday by appointment, or takes… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Boston + neighborhoods (1 town)
Boston
Junk removal →Bulky items: Furniture and bikes are not a special collection. Residents donate them or put them out with the regular trash on collection day.… Source
Mattress: Mattresses and box springs are collected only by appointment, booked online at boston.gov/mattress. Eligible: buildings with six… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $0.05–$50. A dumpster on a public street or sidewalk needs a Street Occupancy Permit from Boston Public Works (apply online at least seven… Source
West of Boston (6 towns)
Brookline
Junk removal →Bulky items: $65. Households on town trash service can schedule up to four bulky, metal, white goods or mattress items per week. Book and pay one… Source
Mattress: $55–$65. Mattresses and box springs must be recycled under MassDEP rules. They go through the town's paid bulky pickup (Casella handles… Source
Dumpster / street permit: A dumpster placed on a Brookline street needs an Occupancy Permit. Email the DPW permits office to ask about the procedure and… Source
Newton
Junk removal →Bulky items: $20 per item. Furniture and other oversized non-recyclable items go out by appointment only: pay online or at City Hall, then the item is… Source
Mattress: $35–$60. Mattresses and box springs must be recycled (state ban since Nov 1, 2022). Newton sells curbside pickup by appointment, or you… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Watertown
Junk removal →Bulky items: $5–$50. Wooden and upholstered furniture is picked up curbside only if you schedule and pay through Republic's call center. Furniture is… Source
Mattress: $50. The city does not collect mattresses or box springs. Residents book their own recycling; the city names HandUp Mattress, which… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Dumpsters and PODS must be placed in a driveway so they do not overhang the sidewalk. Permits and bonds are required for all of… Source
Waltham
Junk removal →Bulky items: One bulky item per week is allowed next to your trash barrel at no extra fee (chairs, couches, dressers, bookcases). Each piece… Source
Mattress: For buildings with 6 or fewer units, the city has Green Mattress Co recycle mattresses and box springs; call the Recycling… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Natick
Town guide →Bulky items: $35–$50. Monday bulky pickup for residents with curbside service: up to 5 items for one flat fee. Not available for businesses or… Source
Mattress: $35. Mattresses and box springs are collected through the Monday bulky pickup on their own truck. A mattress-only booking pays just… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Board of Health Chapter 16: no dumpster (75 gallons or more) may be used or kept without a permit issued to the owner; temporary… Source
Framingham
Town guide →Bulky items: $2–$25. Book and pay in advance online or in person, then set the item out by 7 a.m. on the collection day with the tag on it. Curbside… Source
Mattress: $5–$20. Mattresses cannot go in the trash. The City collects them curbside on Wednesdays by advance booking, or takes them at the… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $50. A street/sidewalk obstruction permit from DPW Engineering is needed to put a temporary dumpster in the street, sidewalk, curb,… Source
South of Boston (7 towns)
Quincy
Town guide →Bulky items: Two bulky items per week, such as sofas, chairs, recliners and lawn furniture, may be set out at the curb on your regular trash… Source
Mattress: Mattresses and box springs are not picked up on your regular trash day. The city lists Mattress Recycling at 617-837-1299 (South… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Milton
Town guide →Bulky items: $4–$35. One furniture or large item per week at the curb. Furniture under 40 lb takes one $4 sticker, larger pieces two; call Sunrise… Source
Mattress: $4–$35. Curbside Tuesdays by request only. Fill out the DPW mattress form or call 617-898-4900 by the previous Friday at noon. Each… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Braintree
Town guide →Bulky items: Two bulk items per week (furniture and appliances) are collected curbside, but each must be scheduled with Capitol Waste at least… Source
Mattress: $50. Not collected curbside and not accepted at the Recycle Center (state disposal ban). The town points residents to private pickup:… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Weymouth
Town guide →Bulky items: Since October 1, 2026, residents book bulky items and white goods/metal items on the Capitol Waste Services scheduler… Source
Mattress: $35–$40. Mattresses and box springs are banned from the trash (since Nov 1, 2022). The town's trash page sends residents to HandUp… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Dedham
Town guide →Bulky items: $34.04–$41.42. Bulky items (upholstered furniture, grill, desk, bed frame, dresser; items without a plug) and white goods are collected by… Source
Mattress: $95.00 per pickup. Mattresses and box springs are collected by appointment with Boston Carting. Massachusetts bans them from disposal since Nov 1,… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $100. Town code Chapter 160: every dumpster needs a permit from the Inspector of Buildings; construction-site dumpsters get a permit of… Source
Needham
Town guide →Bulky items: $5–$220. No curbside bulky pickup. Bulky items go to the RTS for a per-item fee, paid by check or credit card at the scale house; large… Source
Mattress: $25–$50. Mattresses and box springs are banned from trash. The RTS accepts them for recycling; there is no curbside program. Source
Dumpster / street permit: $100. A dumpster on or over a public way or sidewalk needs a DPW street and sidewalk permit with a $5000 surety bond and insurance.… Source
Wellesley
Town guide →Bulky items: No curbside bulky pickup. The RDF has designated areas for household trash and bulky waste; bulky waste is anything that will not… Source
Mattress: Mattresses and box springs are accepted at the RDF Special Waste Orange Area, Bin 13, past the textile bins. Wet, soiled, moldy,… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not published. Call the town's DPW.
Plymouth + Cape Cod (16 towns)
Plymouth
Town guide →Bulky items: $2–$20. No town bulky pickup. Private haulers may take bulky items from the curb for an extra fee; otherwise a permitted vehicle can… Source
Mattress: By weight plus $75 each. Mattresses and box springs go to the Difficult to Manage Waste Collection Facility (Republic Services), 354 Beaver Dam Road, not… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Street obstruction permit issued to the dumpster owner only; 72 hours to review; reflective tape, company name, emergency phone,… Source
Bourne
Town guide →Bulky items: $4–$60. No curbside bulky pickup. Bulky items, textiles and furniture are accepted at the Residential Recycling Center. Each sticker… Source
Mattress: $30. Mattresses and box springs are accepted at the Residential Recycling Center with a charge; they are refused at the Swap Shop and… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $50.00. Bourne Fire/Rescue lists a Dumpster Permit under Commercial & construction permits, $50, applied for through the town's OpenGov… Source
Sandwich
Town guide →Bulky items: $10–$20. No curbside bulky pickup is described. Bulky items go to the Transfer Station with an annual permit and a per-item ticket: $20… Source
Mattress: $40–$50. Mattresses and box springs are accepted at the Transfer Station for a fee per piece, with an annual permit. A one-trip pass does… Source
Dumpster / street permit: No dumpster permit page, fee or placement rule was found on the Building, Health, Public Works or bylaw pages we read. The Board… Source
Falmouth
Town guide →Bulky items: $10–$50. No curbside bulky pickup is posted. Bulky items go to the Waste Management Facility upper level: bulky by size $10, $20 or $30;… Source
Mattress: $50 per item. Mattresses and box springs go in a dedicated lower-level container at the Waste Management Facility. $50 per item. Sticker or… Source
Dumpster / street permit: No dumpster or roll-off permit page found. The Board of Health licenses haulers annually; Chapter 105 (donation bins) says it… Source
Mashpee
Town guide →Bulky items: $2–$50. No curbside bulky pickup is posted. Bulky items are brought to the Transfer Station and paid at the gate by the posted fee list.… Source
Mattress: $30. Mattresses and box springs are accepted at the Transfer Station for a fee. Massachusetts has banned disposal of mattresses since… Source
Dumpster / street permit: $25–$500. The Fire Department's online permitting lists a Dumpster permit, and its fee schedule lists rubbish containers over 6 cubic yards… Source
Barnstable
Town guide →Bulky items: $1–$25. No bulky pickup program is described. Bulky items (furniture, mattresses, box springs, couches) are accepted at the Transfer… Source
Mattress: $10–$55. Mattresses and box springs are accepted at the Transfer Station for a per-item fee; crib mattresses too. Massachusetts has banned… Source
Dumpster / street permit: No dumpster permit page was found on the DPW, Solid Waste or Health Division pages. Call the Public Health Division… Source
Yarmouth
Town guide →Bulky items: $25. Bulky items are brought to the Disposal Area and paid for at the Scale House. The fee list shows $25 each for bulky items such as… Source
Mattress: $25–$35. Yarmouth sends acceptable mattresses to ACE Mattress Recycling. They must be from Yarmouth residences, clean and unsoiled;… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not found. The town's published pages do not name a dumpster or roll-off permit. Public Works handles roads and engineering; call… Source
Dennis
Town guide →Bulky items: $5–$225. No curbside bulky pickup is described. Bulky items are charged per item at the Transfer Station gate, with no pass required per… Source
Mattress: $30–$50. Residents drop mattresses and box springs at the Transfer Station for a fee. The state disposal ban applies, so they cannot go in… Source
Dumpster / street permit: The Building, Health, Public Works and Solid Waste pages show no dumpster or roll-off permit rule. Building permits run through… Source
Harwich
Town guide →Bulky items: $5–$205. No town bulky-pickup route is described on the pages we read. Bulky items go to the Transfer Station and are charged per item on… Source
Mattress: $30. Mattresses and box springs are taken at the Transfer Station for a per-piece fee. The station describes its C&D pad as taking… Source
Dumpster / street permit: No dumpster permit page exists on the town site that we could find. Chapter 255 requires a written license from the Director of… Source
Brewster
Town guide →Bulky items: $20–$225. Bulky waste is brought to the Recycling Center and charged per item or by weight: bulky/demolition debris $225 per ton (minimum… Source
Mattress: $45. Mattresses and box springs are accepted at the Recycling Center for a fee; a mattress plus a box spring counts as two units. The… Source
Dumpster / street permit: Not found. The Brewster pages we read do not publish a dumpster or roll-off rule. The Board of Health and Building Department… Source
Chatham
Town guide →Bulky items: $5–$50. No bulky-item pickup found. Large items are paid for per piece at the Transfer Station gate. Source
Mattress: $50 each. Mattresses and box springs are accepted at the Transfer Station for a fee; the recycling guide says to inquire at the gate. The… Source
Dumpster / street permit: No town dumpster permit rule found. The zoning bylaw says a dumpster used for demolition debris will be covered. A Refuse… Source
Orleans
Town guide →Bulky items: $5–$40. No scheduled bulky pickup found. Bulky items are per-piece fees at the Transfer Station. Source
Mattress: $40 per mattress. Mattresses are $40 each at the Transfer Station. State disposal ban since November 1, 2022. Habitat ReStore refuses mattresses… Source
Dumpster / street permit: No Orleans dumpster permit page found. The Building Department's Debris Disposal Affidavit lets applicants name a rented on-site… Source
Eastham
Town guide →Bulky items: $5–$270. Bulky items are charged per item at the Transfer Station gate: wood furniture by weight ($5 for 40-80 lb up to $20 for 161-200… Source
Mattress: $20–$50. Mattresses are charged at the Transfer Station: $50 each for all mattresses other than crib size; $20 each for box springs and… Source
Dumpster / street permit: No Eastham dumpster or roll-off permit page found. Commercial waste vehicles need an annual Board of Health operating license,… Source
Wellfleet
Town guide →Bulky items: $10–$290. No bulky curbside pickup is listed. Bulky items go to the Transfer Station with a valid sticker: other bulky items $10 each;… Source
Mattress: $20. Mattresses and box springs go to the C&D area at the Transfer Station with a valid sticker. The Swap Shop refuses them. State… Source
Dumpster / street permit: No dumpster or roll-off permit page found on the town site or in the Board of Health regulations. The regulations bar storing… Source
Truro
Town guide →Bulky items: $10–$50. No curbside bulky pickup is posted. Bulky items go to the Transfer Station at per-item fees. Wooden furniture and demolition… Source
Mattress: $50 per item. Mattresses and box springs are accepted at the Transfer Station for $50 each. State disposal ban in effect since 2022-11-01. Swap… Source
Dumpster / street permit: No dumpster permit page is posted. General Bylaw 1-9-12 requires a Building Commissioner permit, up to ninety days, to place… Source
Provincetown
Town guide →Bulky items: No curbside bulky-item pickup is described. The Board of Health regulation makes disposal of furniture the owner's or occupant's… Source
Mattress: $20–$50. Mattresses and box springs are accepted at the Transfer Station for a fee by size; no curbside pickup. Massachusetts has banned… Source
Dumpster / street permit: No dumpster permit fee or street-placement rule found. Board of Health nuisance regulation (Part VI, Art. 8): dumpsters and… Source
Dumpster rules in detail: dumpster permit by town. Bulky pickup: bulky item pickup by town.
Send a photo, get a flat price
Insured crew, carry-out from any floor, disposal and recycling included. Couch $139, queen mattress $109, dresser $69–$179, appliance $79–$149, tube TV $99. By the load: ¼ trailer $209, ½ $319, full $519. $159 minimum, so one item on its own is $159.
Printable move-out checklist
Massachusetts move-out, in one page. Checked November 8, 2026.
- Read lease and landlord move-out sheet
- Sort every room: keep / sell / donate / haul
- Flag mattresses, TVs, appliances (waste bans)
- Check dumpster permit needs and lead time
- List sellable items with a deadline
- Call donation places and book drop-offs or pickups
- Donate clothes, linens, kitchenware, books
- Look up town sticker / mattress / bulky rules
- Photograph leftovers and request a flat price
- Book the haul-away for after packing
- Take paint, batteries, chemicals to a hazardous-waste day
- Clean rooms as they empty
- Dated photos of each room
- Walk every room, closet, cabinet, fridge
- Final dated photos and video
- Return keys with proof
- Send forwarding address to the landlord in writing
Banned from the trash: mattresses and box springs, textiles, tube TVs, large appliances, yard waste, metals, lead batteries.
Quick answers
Can I put my mattress out with the trash when I move out of a Massachusetts apartment?
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No. Massachusetts has banned mattresses and box springs from disposal since November 1, 2022. Use your town's mattress program, a retailer take-back, a donation if it is clean, or a hauler. Many towns charge a fee and need an appointment.
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Massachusetts?
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Under M.G.L. c. 186, section 15B, the landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the deposit, minus only the deductions the law allows. To keep money for damage, the landlord must send, within those 30 days, a sworn itemized list of the damage with estimates, bills or receipts. Reasonable wear and tear can't be charged. This is general information, not legal advice; check the statute or a tenant legal aid office for your case.
What do I do with furniture on September 1 in Boston?
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Boston collects mattresses and special items by appointment, its trash guide lists a $25 fine for early set-out, and the city says it issues citations for improperly stored household trash during the move-in period. Donate what you can, book a city appointment early or hire a hauler for the rest.
Do I need a permit for a dumpster when I move out?
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A dumpster on a public street or sidewalk usually needs a town permit; the rule and fee differ by town. The town list on this page shows what each town publishes, and says so when it publishes nothing.
What does JunkRun charge for a move-out?
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A flat price per item or by the trailer load, with a $159 minimum. A couch is $139, a queen mattress is $109, and a ½ trailer is $319. One item on its own is the $159 minimum. Text a photo for an exact price. JunkRun is insured.
Does JunkRun serve every town in this guide?
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We list rules for towns north of Boston, the North Shore, the south and west suburbs, Plymouth and the Cape. Check the service area page for where we haul.
Sources
Read by JUNKRUN; checked November 8, 2026. Confirm with your town and landlord.