Burlington Waste Disposal Guide
Find the Best Disposal Option in Burlington for Bulk Materials
Our Burlington dumpster rentals have seen junk from all kinds of projects, especially since curbside collection is not offered by the city.* We know how to get rid of a range of items, from tattered couches and household items to yard waste from landscaping jobs. However, we also get that you won’t always need a roll off dumpster for every project.
In case you’re only looking to toss one mattress or an old computer monitor, we collected options for the most common bulk waste items Burlington residents need to get rid of. From furniture and appliances to yard waste and hazardous items, learn how to easily toss your junk.
*The city of Burlington does not allow any waste items to accumulate in the front yard or in a right-of-way location. Only items neatly stored in covered containers on the day of pickup are accepted. If you leave bulk waste at the curb, you will be ticketed, fined and charged for trash removal by the city.
Rent a Dumpster for Simple Disposal
Get rid of a variety of debris at once or toss large quantities of trash to efficiently clean up. Our dumpster rental specialists will help you choose the right dumpster size for your junk and deliver it right to your driveway or another convenient location so you can throw away items as you work. This way, you don’t have to pause to take trips to the landfill or strategically sort bulk materials for a junk removal company. Let us worry about waste disposal so you can focus on what’s next.
Please note that some materials may have fees or restrictions. We’ll go over specific notes when you call.
Call 802-497-6695 to rent a dumpster today.
Simple Furniture Disposal Options
There will come a day when your favorite couch finally loses its spring or your bed frame breaks. We know that getting rid of large items like these can be a headache, so we’ve come up with some convenient disposal solutions to help you get them out of your home.
Take It to a Drop-Off Center
The Williston Drop-Off Center accepts unusable couches for a fee. You will be charged an additional $7 if your couch contains parts for a fold-out bed or recliner.
- Two-seater: $19
- Three-seater: $22
- Sectional: $11 - $22 per section
The Williston Drop-Off Center also accepts other large items with dimensions 2.5’ x 2.5’ x 6’. If your item is smaller than this, take it to any Chittenden Solid Waste District drop-off center, except the ones in Burlington and Hinesburg.
Hire a Junk Removal Service
If you only need to get rid of a few items but don’t think you can get them to the drop-off center yourself, consider contacting a junk removal company. They’ll come to your house and load the items up in their truck for you. However, space in the truck is limited, so cost is based on the amount of room your junk takes up.
Keep In Mind:
- Rates vary for individual items, meaning prices can add up quickly.
- You’ll need to sort items prior to the scheduled pickup.
- Workers may need to enter your home to remove furniture and other large items.
Sell It for Reuse
If your couch or other piece of furniture is still in good condition, you can try selling it at a garage sale or online marketplace. Oftentimes, you can even arrange for the buyer to pick it up from your home so you don’t have to worry about moving it.
Safety Tip: When arranging meetings with potential online buyers, be sure to be sure to check their profile rating and let a friend know when and where you’re meeting.
Donate It to Someone in Need
Slightly-used items can be donated to a local nonprofit to avoid being sent to the landfill. Get in touch with a local shelter, furniture bank or other organization to see if they have a need for used couches and other larger furniture items.
General Donation Tips:
- Ask about drop-off guidelines and pickup options.
- Make sure the item is free from stains, odors, scratches and other damage.
1080 Shelburne Road,
South Burlington, VT 05403
802-658-5359
339 Pine Street
Burlington, VT 05401
802-846-4015
528 Essex Road/Route 2A
Williston, VT 05495
802-857-5296
Need to toss a particular furniture item? View our Furniture Disposal Guide for more tips.
How to Get Rid of a Mattress
Upgrading your mattress for a good night’s sleep is exciting, but figuring out what to do with the old one can be a pain. Try one of these mattress disposal options so it doesn’t end up sitting in the garage taking up space.
Find a Drop-Off Location
Take your old mattress to the Williston Drop-Off Center for proper disposal.
- Crib: $6
- Twin: $20
- Full, double queen: $25
- King: $30
- Waterbed liner: $11
Note that box springs are charged separately at the same rate as the mattress size disposal cost. For example, a twin mattress and box spring together would cost $40 to dispose of.
Use a Junk Removal Service
If all you have is one mattress to get rid of but you aren’t able to get it to the drop-off location on your own, try using a junk removal company for mattress disposal. A couple of team members will come to your house and load the mattress (and box spring if needed) in their truck so you don’t have to worry about lifting it. However, because space in the truck is limited, the cost is usually based on the amount of room your mattress takes up.
Keep In Mind:
- Rates vary by item based on size, meaning this can be an expensive option.
- You’ll need to have the mattress ready to go at your scheduled time.
- Team members will need to enter your home carry out the mattress.
Sell It If It’s in Good Condition
Mattresses are not typically a popular resale item, but if yours is only lightly used, try putting it up for sale online or host a garage sale.
Safety Tip: If you’re meeting up with someone to complete an online sale, be sure to check their profile for any red flags and let a friend know when and where you’re meeting.
Recycle Your Mattress
Another way to divert your old mattress from the landfill is to send it to a recycling facility. According to Sleep Well Recycling, up to 95% of your mattress can be recycled. Take your used mattress to their drop-off center or schedule a pickup.
Sleep Well Drop-Off Center Hours:
- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Closed Wednesdays & Sundays
525 Riverside Avenue
Burlington, VT 05401
603-321-2335
Donate It to a Charity or Friend in Need
Typically, charities and other nonprofits don’t accept mattresses to prevent the spread of bed bugs. However, if your mattress was in a guest bedroom that didn’t get used much, there may be an exception. You also might want to consider giving it away to a friend.
General Donation Tips:
- Get in touch with the organization to see if they accept mattress donations.
- Ask about donation guidelines, like ensuring the mattress is free from stains, odors and bed bugs.
- Find out what the drop-off guidelines and pickup options are.
339 Pine Street
Burlington, VT 05401
802-846-4015
Want to know more about mattress disposal? View our Furniture Disposal Guide for more tips.
Easy Vermont Appliance Disposal
Ready to upgrade your kitchen or laundry room but not sure what to do with the outdated appliances? Getting rid of your refrigerator or washing machine may seem daunting, but we’ve rounded up some solutions to help you breeze through appliance removal.
Drop It Off at a Recycling Facility
It is illegal to throw away appliances in the trash in Chittenden County. Instead, take them to the Williston Drop-Off Center where appliances are recycled as scrap metal.
Disposal Costs for Common Residential Appliances:
- Refrigerator & freezer: $10
- Washer: $5
- Dryer: $5
- Air conditioner: $15
- Dishwasher: $5
- Stove: $5
- Water heater: $5
- Microwave: No fee
- Toaster: Up to $2
Make sure the inside is clean, especially appliances used for food, such as freezers and stoves. For safety reasons, remove drawers, racks or anything else that can come loose inside the appliance, and remove latch-style doors.
Safety concerns also require you to remove freon from refrigerant-containing appliances, such as air conditioning units, refrigerators and freezers. Check out our blog for freon removal tips or jump down to the hazardous waste section for disposal options.
Call a Junk Removal Company
If you’re unable to haul a large appliance to the Williston Drop-Off Center, or can’t find a local appliance repair company or HVAC service company to remove the refrigerant, then consider asking a junk removal service to come haul it away for you. If you need to get rid of several appliances as part of a home remodel, consider renting a dumpster.
Keep In Mind:
- Actual prices are determined after your items are loaded in the truck.
- Make sure the appliances are disconnected and deemed safe when the team shows up. This may include carefully disposing of freon before the company shows up.
- Team members will need to enter your home to remove the appliances.
Sell It for Some Extra Cash
If you’ve taken good care of your appliances and they’re in usable condition, consider hosting a garage sale or reselling the items online. One benefit to this method is getting the buyer to pick up the appliances from you so you don’t have to worry about transporting bulky things.
Safety Tip: While online sales can be convenient, be sure let a friend know when and where you’re meeting and check the buyer’s profile for any red flags.
Donate It to a Local Organization
Local resale stores and nonprofit organizations appreciate donations to help community members get the household items they need at a less-expensive price. If your appliance is reusable and free of rust, consider taking it to a donation center.
General Donation Tips:
- Call ahead to ask if they’ll accept your particular model.
- Make sure your item meets the donation guidelines.
- Ask about drop-off and pickup options.
1080 Shelburne Road
South Burlington, VT 05403
802-658-5359
339 Pine Street
Burlington, VT 05401
802-846-4015
528 Essex Road/Route 2A
Williston, VT 05495
802-857-5296
Getting rid of a specific appliance? Read our Appliance Disposal Guide for more tips.
Responsible Electronics Recycling in Vermont
In the state of Vermont, it’s illegal to dispose of most e-waste items in the regular trash. Whether your computer finally gave out on you or you’re trying to find a way to get rid of an old VCR player stashed in your basement, it’s important to properly recycle your electronic waste.
E-Waste Disposal Tip: To protect your privacy, reset all devices to factory settings before getting rid of them. This helps keep strangers from finding your personal information.
Check With the Manufacturer
The Vermont E-Cycles Program requires manufacturers of certain electronic items to provide proper collection and recycling of their products at no cost to the consumer. When you need to get rid of your device, start by checking with the manufacturer to see what options they provide.
Take E-Waste to a Recycling Facility
If it’s easier for you to drop off your items at a local recycling center, most Chittenden Solid Waste Districts, except the Burlington location, will accept them. Only seven or fewer items can be accepted at once. If you have at least a cubic yard worth of devices, call 802-872-8111 to make a drop-off appointment. Fees are based on the type of electronics you need recycled. Visit the CSWD’s website for more information.
Below are a few other recycling locations registered with the E-Cycles Program.
529 Jasper Mine Road
Colchester, VT 05446
802-863-0404
26 Cypress Street
Williston, VT 05495
802-872-0992
861 Williston Road
South Burlington, VT 05403
802-862-2199
Put Usable Electronics Up for Sale
If you’re simply upgrading to a new model but your old device is still in working condition, try selling it online for some extra cash or give it to someone looking for a working phone or computer. Our e-waste tip to reset your device to factory settings is especially important in this instance to help protect your privacy.
Safety Tip: Check the buyer’s profile for red-flag comments from other transactions and let a friend know when and where you’re meeting to complete the sale.
Donate Devices in Good Condition
If your electronics aren’t too outdated and in good, usable condition, consider donating them so that someone in need of these items can have access to important devices.
General Donation Tips:
- Call ahead to make sure the organization has a need for your device.
- Make sure the item is in working condition and has been reset to factory settings.
- Ask about the drop-off and pickup options.
1080 Shelburne Road
South Burlington, VT 05403
802-658-5359
339 Pine Street
Burlington, VT 05401
802-846-4015
Need to recycle a particular device? Check out our Electronic Waste Removal Guide for specific tips for TVs, computers and more.
Convenient Yard Waste Disposal in Burlington
From drastic yard overhauls to regular lawn maintenance, organic waste piles up fast. Check out some of the ways you can dispose of yard waste in Burlington.
Drop-Off Disposal
Take your green waste to one of the following facilities, depending on the type of yard debris you need to get rid of. You can typically only drop off one load per day free of charge. Avoid including plastic bags, rocks or sod. Use paper bags or compostable bags to hold your waste.
Items accepted at any Chittenden Solid Waste District Drop-Off Center, except Burlington:
- Leaves
- Grass clippings
- Weeds
- Garden trimmings
- House plants
Items accepted at McNeil Wood Waste Depot:
- Clean wood
- Leaves
Composting Options
Another option to consider is composting. This returns your green waste to the earth instead of sending it to the landfill. You can make a compost pile at home or take it to a composting site.
General Composting Donation Tips:
- Find out if there’s a fee.
- Know if there are size and weight restrictions.
- See if consistent service options are available.
- Ask about drop-off regulations and pickup choices.
1042 Redmond Road,
Williston, VT 05495
802-660-4949
Need in-depth tips for getting rid ongoing yard debris? Check out our Yard Waste Disposal Guide.
The Safest Hazardous Waste Disposal Solutions
Did you know that some common items lying around your garage are too dangerous for landfill disposal? Paint, pesticides, automotive fluids, tires and batteries are just a few things that are considered environmental hazards and require special disposal processes. Luckily, Chittenden County has a year-round facility that accepts materials like these.
Bring Them to a Drop-Off Site
For household hazardous waste, you must schedule an appointment with the county’s Environmental Depot. If you’re a business looking to discard dangerous materials, call 802-865-4663. The chart below includes a partial list of accepted items.
Hazardous Waste Type | Examples |
|---|---|
Automotive Supplies | Antifreeze, autobody filler, brake fluid, gasoline, grease, motor oil, oil filters, solvents, transmission fluid, wax |
Home Improvement Supplies | Glues, paint and thinner, roofing tar, stains, strippers, varnish |
Household Cleaners | Ammonia, chlorine bleach, drain openers, furniture polish, oven cleaners, rug and upholstery cleaners, tub and tile cleaners |
Garden Supplies | Fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, poisons |
Mercury-Containing Devices | Ballasts and capacitors, fluorescent light bulbs, thermometers and thermostats |
Miscellaneous Items | Batteries, flea powder and shampoo, propane cylinders, road flares |
What to Know Before Drop-off:
- Residential drop-off is limited to 20 gallons per day
- Items not accepted include asbestos, explosives and medical or infectious waste.
- Chittenden County residents will not be charged a fee for household quantities of accepted materials. However, fees may apply for specialty items and larger amounts of waste.
1011 Airport Parkway
South Burlington, VT 05403
802-865-4663
Renting a dumpster? Visit our prohibited items page to learn which materials can’t go in the container.