Bulky Item Pickup in Lowell, MA

How the city bulky pickup works

Lowell's curbside page says big or bulky items must be scheduled with Waste Management, separate from trash, recycling and yard waste, and the city's Q&A gives 1-800-972-4545 for unusable bulky items. The city's Chapter 270 defines a bulky item as something under 100 pounds that cannot fit in a city bag, cart or barrel, and lists white goods, CRTs and bulky items among the removals priced separately. We could not find a published fee.

Placement rules are strict. Items go out no earlier than the day before collection and only in front of your own property, with fines up to $100 for violations. If you share a building with other units, agree on whose curb space is whose before putting anything out.

Why a one-item-at-a-time system is hard on full units

A tenant leaving a three-bedroom unit might have a sofa, two dressers, a table with chairs, a bed frame and a dozen boxes. Booking those one appointment at a time takes weeks, and the furniture has to sit on the sidewalk in front of the building meanwhile, where weather and neighbors act on it. Rain makes upholstered pieces left out soaked and heavy.

A single trailer visit clears the whole unit in one stop. A half trailer is $319 and a full trailer $519, and carry-out from any floor is included in that price.

Item prices for common bulky pieces

Per-item prices from our menu: sofa $139, loveseat $89, chair $69, regular dresser $99, large dresser $139, regular table or desk $79, tall bookcase $79, bed frame $109, wall unit $109 per section. Anything under $159 total is billed at the $159 minimum, so it makes sense to gather items before booking. Pricing is flat per item and confirmed before the crew arrives; stairs, parking and distance to the curb do not add a surcharge. If you are unsure which tier a piece falls in, send a photo and we will name the price. For pieces the city would take for a fee, compare that quote against ours, since a three-item pile often costs less with us than three separate appointments.

Before the Waste Management bulky appointment

Call 800-972-4545 and get the price and pickup day in writing or by text
Set items out no earlier than the day before, in front of your own property only
Keep each item under 100 lbs, or ask whether heavier pieces are accepted
Photograph the pile after placing it, in case it is missed
Confirm separately for mattresses (UTEC) and for CRT TVs and white goods, which have their own fees
Move anything that blocks a hydrant, driveway or neighbor's curb

Quick answers

What is the fee for a Lowell bulky pickup?

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The city's pages give the phone number but not a price, so ask Waste Management when you call 800-972-4545. We could not confirm a published fee.

Can I put a sofa out with the trash cart?

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No. Furniture has to be scheduled as a bulky item. Lids must also close fully or the cart is not emptied.

Sources

Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Lowell before you go.

City of Lowell: Curbside Collection: “big or bulky items must be scheduled for pick up with Waste Management” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Lowell: Most Common Questions Answered: “Unusable bulky items? Schedule a pick-up with WM by calling: 1-800-972-4545” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Lowell Code, Chapter 270: Waste and Recycling (eCode360): “BULKY ITEM Any large-sized item weighing less than 100 pounds that cannot be placed in a City bag, cart or barrel” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Lowell Code, Chapter 270 (priced removals): “the removal of certain items as determined by the Commissioner, including but not limited to white goods, CRTs and bulky items” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Lowell: Curbside Collection (set-out timing): “No items out for collection such as trash, recycling, yard waste or bulky items, should be put out any earlier than the day before it's collection” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Lowell: Curbside Collection (own property): “All items must be put out in front of one's own property; it cannot be put out in front of another's property.” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Lowell: Curbside Collection (fines): “Anyone found in violation of this is subject to fines up to $100.” · accessed October 31, 2026

Bulky item pickup in Lowell