Got one thing you just need gone? A couch, a mattress, an old TV, a broken fridge: your city's trash hauler picks it up at the curb. It's free in Del Mar, Carlsbad and Oceanside (3 to 5 times a year, up to 5 items each time), Solana Beach gets two curbside chances a year for up to four items, and Encinitas charges a nominal fee. Book it, set it out the morning of your pickup (by 6 a.m. in EDCO towns), and it's gone. Good stuff goes faster if you give it away first.
Rather just ask? Text your question to PJ, a real person in Cardiff, and he answers it. Asking is free. Not sure which pickup is yours or if they'll take it? Send a photo of the thing. Text PJ
Bulky item pickup by town
| Town | Hauler | The deal, in their words | How to book | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Del Mar | EDCO | "three FREE bulky item pick-ups per year of up to five items each pick-up" | EDCO's online request form; out by 6 a.m. on your day | EDCO source |
| Carlsbad | Republic Services | "up to 5 bulky household items for free, 3 times annually" | call 760-332-6464 at least 24 hours before your regular collection day | Republic Services source |
| Oceanside | WM | "Five large items including electronic waste can be picked up at the curb five times per year at no charge" | call (760) 439-2824 at least 24 hours or 1 business day before your service day | WM source |
| Solana Beach | EDCO | "two opportunities each year to dispose of up to four bulky items at the curb"; more pickups "for a nominal fee per item" | EDCO's online request form; out by 6 a.m. on your day | EDCO source |
| Encinitas, Cardiff, Leucadia, Olivenhain | EDCO | "This service is offered for a nominal fee." | EDCO's online request form; out by 6 a.m. on your day | EDCO source |
Read on each hauler's own page or guide October 19, 2026. Solana Beach's yearly events come from EDCO's Solana Beach residents' guide; EDCO's Solana Beach page says extra pickups are "offered for a nominal fee." Not sure who your hauler is? It's printed on your cart and your bill. More on bins and pickup days: which bin does it go in?
What the pickup won't take
EDCO lists these as not accepted: "Tires Dirt Concrete Asphalt Hazardous chemicals such as paints, thinners, solvents, pesticides, and liquid wastes" (EDCO). Paint and chemicals go to the County's household hazardous waste program; old electronics have free drop-offs. Carlsbad residents can recycle a mattress free at the Palomar Transfer Station (Republic Services); Palomar hours.
EDCO also takes refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners, but its Solana Beach guide says they are "charged a higher fee per item because they contain refrigerants" (EDCO).
Still good? Give it away first
- Post it free on Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor or your neighborhood's Buy Nothing group with one clear photo and "curb pickup, today."
- Call a charity that takes furniture: many pick up for free, but they only take what they can resell, so send a photo first.
- Nobody bites in two days? Book the city pickup above.
Just one thing and you'd rather not deal?
Text PJ a photo. He'll tell you the fastest way out (a free post, a charity, the city pickup or a drop-off), and when he's around he can book it and get it to the curb for you, from $25. He doesn't haul trash to the dump himself: your city's hauler collects it. For a truckload in one visit, a full-service junk company is faster. Text PJ
Sources: EDCO Del Mar bulky item pickup, EDCO Encinitas, EDCO Solana Beach, EDCO Solana Beach residents' guide, Republic Services Carlsbad free programs, WM Oceanside 2025 residents' guide. Checked October 19, 2026.
Need a human?
This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.
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Questions people ask
Is bulky item pickup free in Encinitas?
No. EDCO, Encinitas's hauler, says bulky item pickup "is offered for a nominal fee." Request it on EDCO's Encinitas site and set the item out by 6 a.m. on your pickup day.
How do I get rid of a couch or mattress in Carlsbad?
Republic Services picks up up to 5 bulky household items free, 3 times a year: call 760-332-6464 at least 24 hours before your regular collection day. Carlsbad residents can also recycle a mattress free at the Palomar Transfer Station.
Is bulky pickup free in Oceanside?
Yes. WM picks up five large items, including electronic waste, five times a year at no charge. Call (760) 439-2824 at least 24 hours or 1 business day before your service day.
Is bulky pickup free in Del Mar?
Yes. EDCO gives Del Mar homes three free bulky item pickups a year of up to five items each. Request it online and set the items out by 6 a.m.
What won't the bulky pickup take?
Tires, dirt, concrete, asphalt and hazardous chemicals such as paint, thinners, solvents, pesticides and liquids. Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners are taken for a higher fee in EDCO towns.
I just need one thing gone. Who can help?
Text PJ a photo: he'll tell you the fastest way out (a free post, a charity, the city pickup or a drop-off), and when he's around he can book it and get it to the curb, from $25.
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