Junk removal in Back Bay and the South End, Boston
NO SURPRISES.
Why the city's programs often do not reach these buildings
Boston's mattress appointment pickup stops at six units. A converted Back Bay brownstone with a dozen condos, or a South End building with a rental on every floor, falls outside it, and the property manager has to arrange removal. Furniture can go out with regular trash on collection day, and fridges, air conditioners and TVs go through the city's special-item booking, which takes 5 items per appointment.
Single-family and two- to six-unit rowhouses in the South End are covered by the mattress booking at boston.gov/mattress, and the special-item booking handles fridges. Those are the first calls.
Stoops, stairwells and the no-elevator problem
Both neighborhoods are famous for steep stone stoops and narrow interior stairs, and in a four-story walk-up a sleeper sofa or armoire needs two people and sometimes the window. Say the floor and stairwell width when you text; we don't add a stair fee, but we do plan the carry.
A moving or pickup truck on a city street needs space: ask the City about its moving-truck permit, since a resident parking sticker does not reserve it, and tow zones and snow emergency rules still apply.
Drop-offs close to the neighborhood
Goodwill's donation center at 1010 Harrison Avenue is open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and sits at the South End's edge. Boston Building Resources at 100 Terrace Street takes donations on Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Habitat's ReStore, in West Roxbury, takes donations that are in working order.
Prices for what is left: an armoire is $179, a large dresser $139, a loveseat $89, a quarter trailer $209.
For a condo board or building manager
- Count units: six or fewer can use the city's mattress booking.
- Seven or more: the property manager arranges removal; ask a private hauler to include the Massachusetts mattress recycling fee.
- Reserve the elevator and a loading window before the crew arrives.
- Reserve street space with the City moving-truck permit; check tow zones.
- Post the pickup time in the lobby so residents stay out of the stairwell.
- Keep items off the sidewalk until the crew is on site.
What a pickup in Back Bay and South End looks like.
- Where
- Back Bay and the South End are central Boston neighborhoods. JUNKRUN is based in Melrose and serves them as part of its Boston coverage.
- County and population
- Suffolk County. Neighborhood of Boston (city population 675,647) residents (2020 U.S. Census).
- Neighborhoods
- Back Bay, South End
- Homes
- Brownstones and brick bowfront rowhouses, many converted to condos or apartments, with steep front stoops and narrow stairways and often no elevator. Many condo buildings have more than six units.
- Seasonal notes
- City yard-waste weeks end the first week of December.
- Access and parking
- Permit parking is common and street space limited. Ask the City about a moving-truck permit for street space; a resident parking permit does not reserve space for a move.
Local resources in Back Bay and South End
Donation, reuse and recycling options near the pickup. We are not affiliated with these; confirm hours and what they accept before you go.
- Donation
Goodwill Boston (Harrison Ave)
Donation center run by Goodwill Industries of Massachusetts. About 1 mile from Back Bay and South End (straight line), in Boston.
1010 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02119 - Reuse
Boston Building Resources
Accepts: Donations for its nonprofit reuse store. Drop-off Tue and Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m., or by appointment.
Nonprofit reuse store in Roxbury; call 617-442-2262 to ask whether your items fit before you bring them. About 1 mile from Back Bay and South End (straight line), in Boston.
100 Terrace St, Boston, MA 02120 - Habitat ReStore
Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Greater Boston)
Staff help unload; pickup is scheduled through ReSupply for a fee, and you get a tax receipt. About 6 miles from Back Bay and South End (straight line), in West Roxbury.
1580 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132 - Town
City of Boston special-item pickup (Public Works)
Covers the appliances and CRT screens that cannot go out with regular trash.
Booked at boston.gov or the BOS:311 app - Hazardous waste
Boston Zero Waste Day (event site)
Not year-round and takes no furniture; it is the city's main way to dispose of paint and e-waste. About 6 miles from Back Bay and South End (straight line), in West Roxbury.
315 Gardner St, West Roxbury, MA 02132
Sources
Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Back Bay and South End before you go.
- City of Boston: Special collection items: “A maximum of 5 items can be collected per appointment” · accessed October 31, 2026
- City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “buildings with six units or fewer” · accessed October 31, 2026
- City of Boston Public Works: Trash: “Furniture can be put out with your normal curbside trash and recycling on your scheduled collection day” · accessed October 31, 2026
- Goodwill Industries of Massachusetts: store and donation locations: “Donation Center Hours Monday - Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM” · accessed October 31, 2026
- Boston Building Resources: “Donation Drop-off Hours: Tuesday and Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM” · accessed November 1, 2026
- Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston: ReStore donations: “All donations must be in working order” · accessed November 1, 2026
Your Back Bay and South End price in 30 seconds.
Text a photo and we send one flat price that covers the crew, loading, the drive and disposal. Pick a 2-hour window, and a two-person crew carries it out from wherever it sits in your Back Bay and South End home, loads the trailer and sweeps up.
- ✓ No travel fee to Back Bay and South End
- ✓ No stair fees, any floor
- ✓ Mattress recycling included (MA law)
Tap + to add · $159 minimum, everything included
See my instant price →Or text a photo to (617) 545-0382
Back Bay and South End is part of the City of Boston, so city trash, mattress and appliance rules apply. Junk removal in all of Boston →
Have a truck or trailer in Back Bay and South End? JunkRun sends Back Bay and South End-area junk removal jobs to haulers with the pay shown before you claim, and no lead fees. See how hauling for JunkRun works · Hauling jobs near Back Bay and South End
Prices from $159, crew, carry-out and disposal included, no travel fee to Back Bay and South End. See all prices. Also see trash removal, junk removal cost in Massachusetts, basement cleanouts.
More in Back Bay and South End: move-out junk removal.
Junk removal in Back Bay and South End, answered.
Does the city pick up mattresses from Back Bay condos?
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Only buildings of six units or fewer. Larger condo buildings use the property manager or a private hauler.
Is there a stair fee for brownstones?
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No. Prices are by item or load, and we carry from any floor.
Where is the closest Goodwill?
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1010 Harrison Avenue, Boston, open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for donations.
Also running near Back Bay and South End.
Get a Back Bay and South End price.
Use the price form or text a photo to (617) 545-0382.