Move-out junk removal in Cambridge, MA
The one-piece rule and September 1
A student apartment with a sofa, a desk and two chairs breaks the one-piece-per-week rule on day one. The city also excludes commercial and industrial items. Appliances and big TVs need a paid permit and collect on Wednesdays or Thursdays; mattresses go through UTEC at $45 each, booked in advance. Cambridge ran a Move-Out Waste Reduction Pilot with a free store in spring 2025; no fall 2026 date was confirmed.
Plan the order: mattress booking, permit items, then the leftovers.
Vans, containers and parking
A moving van on a Cambridge street needs a Moving Van Permit, issued for a maximum of two consecutive days, and a moving container needs a Container/Crate Permit, issued for three consecutive days. A dumpster needs a Dumpster Permit that reserves curb space for moving debris or garbage from a construction site.
A pickup truck stops at the nearest loading point. Tell us the building's entry and the floor.
Donation and what is left
Goodwill accepts clothing, household goods, small appliances and electronics in good condition, and its Cambridge store at 520 Massachusetts Avenue is open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Boomerangs by More Than Words, 563 Massachusetts Avenue, takes Cambridge donations by approved appointment only because of limited space (617-749-4278). The Habitat ReStore in West Roxbury takes appliances less than eight years old.
For the rest, a half trailer is $319 and a full trailer $519; individual pieces start at $11 for a box.
A Cambridge move-out in four stages
- Book UTEC
$45 per mattress; slots fill fast near Sept 1.
- Apply for permit items
Appliances and big TVs: online or at 147 Hampshire St.
- Call the donation sites
Goodwill and Boomerangs; Boomerangs takes appointments only.
- Reserve the van
Moving Van Permit for up to two days, Container/Crate Permit for three.
- Text the leftovers
Flat price by the item or load.
Local resources in Cambridge
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 Cambridge
Accepts: Goodwill takes clothing, household goods and small electronics in good condition, but its listing for this store shows store hours only (Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun noon-6 p.m.), so call 617-868-6330 to ask about donating here.
Goodwill Industries of Massachusetts store. In Cambridge itself.
520 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 - Thrift
Boomerangs by More Than Words (Cambridge)
Youth-run nonprofit thrift store; call 617-749-4278 to schedule a donation. In Cambridge itself.
563 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 - Mattress recycling
UTEC mattress recycling (Cambridge program)
Accepts: Mattresses and box springs, $45 each; check the program page for collection rules
City-contracted nonprofit; UTEC 978-856-3997; slots fill fast.
Booked online; curbside pickup - Recycling
Cambridge Recycling Center (DPW yard)
Residents plus small Cambridge businesses; the place for e-waste and scrap that cannot go curbside. No winter hours posted; call 617-349-4800. In Cambridge itself.
147 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Quick answers
Do I need a permit to park a moving van in Cambridge?
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Yes, a Moving Van Permit (up to two consecutive days); a container needs a Container/Crate Permit (three consecutive days).
Where can I donate furniture in Cambridge?
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Goodwill at 520 Massachusetts Avenue and Boomerangs at 563 Massachusetts Avenue (approved appointments only).
Is there a free move-out store?
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A spring 2025 pilot was held; no fall 2026 date was confirmed.
Sources
Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Cambridge before you go.
- Cambridge DPW: Furniture, appliance and large-item disposal: “Residents are allowed to put one piece of furniture out per week on trash day” · accessed October 31, 2026
- Cambridge DPW: Mattress recycling: “There is a $45 fee for each mattress and box spring.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- Cambridge: Street occupancy permits (moving van): “Moving Van Permits can be issued for a maximum of two consecutive days.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- Cambridge: Street occupancy permits (container): “These permits are issued for three consecutive days.” · accessed October 31, 2026
- Cambridge: Street occupancy permits (dumpster): “A Dumpster Permit allows you to reserve curb space for the purpose of temporarily placing a dumpster on a City street” · accessed October 31, 2026
- Goodwill Industries of Massachusetts: what to donate: “We accept clothing, household goods, small appliances, electronics, and more.” · accessed November 1, 2026
- Goodwill Industries of Massachusetts: store and donation locations: “520 Massachusetts Avenue ... Store Hours Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM” · accessed October 31, 2026
- Boomerangs by More Than Words: “Donations at our Cambridge location require advance approval due to limited space” · accessed November 1, 2026
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore (West Roxbury): “Appliances (less than eight years old)” · accessed November 1, 2026