{
 "slug": "boston",
 "city": "Boston",
 "state": "MA",
 "last_checked": "2026-10-24",
 "summary": "Boston Public Works collects furniture with curbside trash, but mattresses and Freon/CRT appliances and electronics require a scheduled appointment. City pickup applies to buildings with six units or fewer.",
 "sections": {
  "Curbside pickup rules": [
   "Furniture and bikes: donate or put out with curbside trash (per the City's Special Collection Items page).",
   "Mattresses and box springs are NOT collected with regular trash; an appointment is required.",
   "Fridges, freezers, water coolers, ice makers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers (Freon) and TVs, laptops, monitors (CRTs) require a special collection appointment; Massachusetts law bans these from the trash.",
   "Water heaters, plumbing fixtures, dishwashers, large exercise equipment: donate or hire a private hauler.",
   "Set out at your normal trash spot by 6 a.m. on appointment day, or after 5 p.m. the night before. Remove fridge/freezer doors and all food; do not smash items."
  ],
  "How to book": [
   "Boston 311: dial 311 or 617-635-4500, email 311@boston.gov, or use the City's online schedulers linked below.",
   "Cancel before 12 p.m. the day before via the link in your confirmation email, or call 311."
  ],
  "Item limits": [
   "Special collection items: max 10 per calendar year, max 5 per appointment.",
   "Mattresses: max 10 per calendar year.",
   "Eligibility: buildings with six units or fewer. Larger buildings must use a private hauler / property manager."
  ],
  "Fees": [
   "The City pages reviewed do not list a fee for these appointments. Confirm with Boston 311."
  ],
  "Mattress recycling / state bans": [
   "Massachusetts (MassDEP) requires mattress recycling as of November 1, 2022; mattresses may not go in the trash.",
   "Accepted: memory foam, box springs, innerspring, hybrid, latex. Not accepted as mattresses: futons, toppers (those go in curbside trash).",
   "Soiled or bed-bug mattresses must be fully bagged and sealed. Do not cut or crush."
  ],
  "Drop-off sites": [
   "The City does not list a municipal bulky drop-off in the pages reviewed. It publishes a list of private mattress recyclers (some with drop-off, e.g. Green Mattress in Brockton) on its Large Residential Buildings page. Confirm current options with the City."
  ]
 },
 "sources": [
  {
   "title": "Mattress Recycling | Boston.gov",
   "url": "https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/mattress-recycling"
  },
  {
   "title": "Special Collection Items | Boston.gov",
   "url": "https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/special-collection-items"
  },
  {
   "title": "Trash and Recycling in Large Residential Buildings | Boston.gov",
   "url": "https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/large-residential-buildings"
  },
  {
   "title": "Waste Collection Schedule and Search | Boston.gov",
   "url": "https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/trash-and-recycling-day-schedule-and-search"
  }
 ],
 "items": {
  "mattress": {
   "verdict": "City curbside pickup by appointment only (buildings with 6 units or fewer). Never in regular trash.",
   "facts": [
    "Boston will not collect mattresses or box springs with curbside trash; every mattress needs a scheduled appointment (Massachusetts bans mattresses from disposal).",
    "Eligible: residents of buildings with 6 units or fewer. Larger buildings: ask your property manager; the City links a list of private mattress haulers.",
    "Limit: 10 mattress items per calendar year.",
    "Accepted: memory foam, box springs, innerspring, hybrid, latex. Futons and toppers are not taken in this program; they go out with curbside trash.",
    "Soiled, dirty, or bed-bug mattresses must be bagged and fully sealed. Do not cut or crush."
   ],
   "book": [
    "Schedule online from the City's Mattress Recycling page, or call 311 / 617-635-4500, or email 311@boston.gov.",
    "Set out where your trash goes by 6 a.m. on appointment day, or after 5 p.m. the night before; not on private property.",
    "Cancel before 12 p.m. the day before via the link in your confirmation email, or call 311. Report a missed pickup within 24 hours."
   ],
   "src": [
    0
   ]
  },
  "couch": {
   "verdict": "No appointment needed: furniture goes out with curbside trash (or donate it).",
   "facts": [
    "The City lists furniture as an item that does NOT require special collection: donate it or put it out with curbside trash.",
    "Special collection appointments are only for Freon and CRT items; the City says it does not collect special items without an appointment, but furniture is not one of them.",
    "The City's pages reviewed do not state a per-week piece limit or size limit for curbside furniture; check the Trash Day app directory or 311 for a specific piece.",
    "Futons (as furniture) go out with curbside trash; the mattress program does not take them."
   ],
   "book": [
    "No booking needed. Put it out on your regular trash day. Look up your day with the City's Waste Collection Schedule search.",
    "Questions: 311 or 617-635-4500."
   ],
   "src": [
    1,
    3
   ]
  },
  "fridge": {
   "verdict": "City pickup by special collection appointment only (Freon item). Doors off, food out.",
   "facts": [
    "Massachusetts law bans items containing Freons from the trash; Boston collects fridges and freezers by special collection appointment.",
    "Remove ALL doors (including mini fridges) and all food, or the item will not be collected. Doors can go next to your trash bin for regular collection.",
    "Other Freon items on the same program: water coolers, ice makers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers.",
    "Limit: 10 special items per calendar year, 5 per appointment. No commercial-grade items.",
    "Not in this program: water heaters and dishwashers (donate or hire a private hauler)."
   ],
   "book": [
    "Schedule from the City's Special Collection Items page, or call 311 / 617-635-4500.",
    "Set out where trash goes by 6 a.m. on appointment day, or after 5 p.m. the night before. Do not smash appliances.",
    "Cancel before 12 p.m. the day before; report a missed pickup within 24 hours."
   ],
   "src": [
    1
   ]
  },
  "tv": {
   "verdict": "City pickup by special collection appointment (TVs are listed as CRT items). Not in regular trash.",
   "facts": [
    "Boston lists televisions, laptops, and computer monitors under special collection (Cathode Ray Tube items); Massachusetts law bans CRTs from the trash.",
    "The City page lists 'Televisions' under CRTs and does not separately address flat-screen TVs. Confirm with 311 how to handle a flat-screen.",
    "TVs and computers must be freestanding, not in a box, and intact. Wipe data from computers first.",
    "Limit: 10 special items per calendar year, 5 per appointment.",
    "Working TVs: the City suggests donating, or retailer take-back; see the Boston Zero Waste Directory."
   ],
   "book": [
    "Schedule from the City's Special Collection Items page, or call 311 / 617-635-4500.",
    "Set out where trash goes by 6 a.m. on appointment day, or after 5 p.m. the night before.",
    "Cancel before 12 p.m. the day before; report a missed pickup within 24 hours."
   ],
   "src": [
    1
   ]
  }
 },
 "items_last_checked": "2026-10-24",
 "url": "https://bulkyatlas.com/cities/boston/",
 "site": "Bulky Atlas",
 "disclaimer": "Summarized from the official sources listed; rules change, confirm with the source before acting."
}