How to get rid of a couch in Milwaukee, WI

Set the couch at your regular collection point on your regular day. Milwaukee picks up 1 cubic yard of bulky items free (about the size of a recliner) with no request; a large sofa or extra items over that need a paid special pickup ($75 for 1 to 4 cubic yards).

Last checked against the official City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, Sanitation Services website. See sources.

Cost
Free up to 1 cubic yard
When
Your regular collection day
Over 1 cu yd
$75 special pickup (up to 4)

Drop Off Center summer hours (Tuesday to Sunday) end November 28, 2026; winter hours have been Tuesday to Saturday. Eastbound Lincoln Ave is closed from 43rd to 35th St, so reach the South Side center westbound from S. 35th St.

Option 1: City pickup (Bulky item pickup (1 cubic yard free; paid special pickup))

Who can use it

  • Only for properties with solid waste collection from City of Milwaukee Sanitation Services.

How to book

  1. Up to 1 cubic yard: no request needed; set it out at your regular collection point on your regular day.
  2. More than 1 cubic yard: set the items out, then request a special pickup online or call 414-286-CITY (2489).

Couch rules

  • Furniture is the City's main example of a bulky item.
  • If it is bigger than about 1 cubic yard, set it out and request a special pickup online or at 414-286-CITY (2489).

Setting it out

  • Place items at your regular collection point (alley line or curb line).
  • Special pickup does not take more than 6 cubic yards, loose material, or mixed materials (construction waste, recyclables, tires, brush or yard waste); those piles are referred to the Department of Neighborhood Services as a property violation.
  • Not bulky waste: yard waste, electronics and TVs, appliances and tires. Take those to a Drop Off Center.

Fees and limits

  • Up to 1 cubic yard on your regular day: free.
  • Special pickup: $75 for 1 to 4 cubic yards; $225 for 4 to 6 cubic yards.
  • Drop Off Centers: loads under 1 cubic yard (a passenger car) are free; 1 to 3 cubic yards $20; 3 to 6 cubic yards $30; larger loads cost more. TVs $5 each (max 3). Recyclables and scrap metal are free regardless of volume.

Option 2: Drop it off yourself

  • The Drop Off Centers take old furniture; a load under 1 cubic yard is free, and 1 to 3 cubic yards is $20.
  • North Side Drop Off Center, 6660 Industrial Road, and South Side Drop Off Center, 3879 W. Lincoln Avenue. For City of Milwaukee residents and property owners with a current photo ID. 2026 summer hours (April 12 to November 28): Tuesday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Winter hours (last posted for Nov 30, 2025 to Apr 11, 2026): Tuesday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed City holidays, including Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday.
  • Not allowed: box trucks or trailers over 16 feet, dump trucks, flatbeds, semis and utility trucks.

Option 3: Donate or give it away

  • The City's donation page lists the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul (both offer free pickup of furniture) and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
  • Habitat's national guidance: furniture should be gently used or like new. Check with the ReStore first.

Donation rules are set by each charity and can change. Call before you load up.

What we could not confirm

  • The City does not say whether a typical full-size sofa counts as more than 1 cubic yard; its guide compares 1 cubic yard to a recliner.
  • The City has not yet posted its winter 2026-27 Drop Off Center dates; the winter schedule shown is last season's.

Common questions

Does Milwaukee pick up couches for free?
Up to 1 cubic yard of bulky items is free on your regular day. Larger loads need a paid special pickup.
How much is a special pickup?
$75 for 1 to 4 cubic yards, $225 for 4 to 6 cubic yards.
Can I drop it off?
Yes, at the North Side (6660 Industrial Rd) or South Side (3879 W. Lincoln Ave) Drop Off Center, with a current photo ID.

Sources

Last checked Oct 23, 2026. We read each page below on that date.

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