Do You Need an Appointment for Bulky Trash in Prince George’s County?

Short answer: usually no. If your home gets Prince George’s County–contracted trash collection, you can set out up to four bulky items (or four tightly secured bags of small household items) next to your trash cart on your regular trash day. No appointment, no phone call, no form.

You do need to schedule through PGC311 for appliances, car tires, scrap metal and electronics. If the county doesn’t collect your trash in the first place (some cities, apartment complexes, HOAs and private haulers work differently), the county route may not apply to you at all.

This guide walks you through it in order: who collects your trash, which route your item takes, how to set it out so it has the best chance of being picked up, and what to do when something needs an appointment or gets left behind.

Last checked October 8, 2026, against Prince George’s County’s official pages (sources at the bottom). Kalm Kode is an independent guide, not a county service. We can’t book a pickup or guarantee that anything gets collected. When in doubt, PGC311 has the final word.

Why this feels more confusing than it should

You’re not imagining it. A few things make a simple question harder than it needs to be:

• The limit changed. A September 2023 county news post says two bulky items per week. The limit went up to four, starting July 1, 2024. If a page, neighbor or old flyer says two, it’s out of date.
• One county FAQ mixes both numbers. It mentions two standard bulky items and a four-item maximum in the same answer. Go by the current bulky trash page, which says four.
• “Bulky trash” covers several different services. Trash-day bulky pickup, appliance appointments, tire appointments and the monthly scrap metal and electronics pickup each work a little differently.
• Your address doesn’t tell you who your collector is. A PG County mailing address can mean county service, city service, apartment management or a private hauler.

So start with the collector, then the item. That order saves most of the guesswork.

Step 1: Check who actually collects your trash

Before you drag anything to the curb, figure out which group you’re in.

You have county-contracted trash and recycling

The county says it provides trash collection to about 180,000 homes. If you’re one of them, everything in Steps 2 through 4 applies to you: bulky items go next to your cart on your regular trash day, and only certain items need an appointment.

You pay the county only for bulky trash service

Some residents don’t get county trash collection but pay for bulky pickup on its own. The county says these residents should schedule their bulky pickup through PGC311 rather than just setting items out.

You live in a city or town with its own collection

Some municipalities in Prince George’s County run their own trash services, and their bulky rules can be completely different. The county’s bulky trash page tells municipal residents to check with their local waste management office.

For example, the City of Hyattsville requires advance scheduling for bulk pickup and has its own limits and set-out rules. Check the city’s current bulk-waste page before requesting a pickup or putting anything outside.

If you live in a city or town, look up its public works or waste page before you follow anything else in this guide.

Your HOA or a private hauler handles collection

If a private company collects your trash, whether you hired it or your HOA arranges it, ask that provider about bulky items: what it accepts, how to prepare them, which dates, and any fees. Don’t assume the county’s trash-day rules apply. If you separately pay the county for bulky-only service, schedule that through PGC311.

You live in an apartment complex

The county’s bulky collection specifically excludes materials from apartment complexes. Your building or management company handles bulky items, and condo buildings vary, so follow your property’s actual arrangement. Ask them:

• Where do bulky items go, and is there a designated spot?
• Is there a scheduled bulk day, a request form or a fee?
• Who do I tell before I put a mattress or couch out?

You live in a townhome

Townhomes with county service can use the trash-day route, with a catch: put items at the curb in front of your townhome or your assigned parking space, and keep that spot clear. Haulers and county staff won’t collect from common areas or shared grounds. Your HOA or civic association may also have its own rules about what can sit out and when.

Still not sure?

Call PGC311 (details in Step 4) and ask, “Who handles bulky trash pickup at my address?” A quick call can save you from hauling a dresser to the curb for nothing.

Step 2: Match your item to the right route

Once you know you have county trash service, sort your item into one of three routes: regular trash-day bulky pickup, a separate PGC311 appointment, or a disposal option outside the standard bulky program.

Trash-day bulky: no appointment needed

These can go next to your trash cart on your regular collection day. Each one counts toward your four-item weekly limit. Prep matters, because an accepted item can still get left behind if it isn’t ready.

• Furniture: sofas, coffee tables, headboards and footboards, dressers, tables and chairs.
• Mattresses and box springs: must be completely covered in a protective plastic covering. The county has required this since February 1, 2019. Zippered mattress bags are sold at many retailers for a small price. Need the full how-to? See How to Get a Mattress Picked Up in Prince George’s County.
• Carpet and padding: roll it and tie the ends. The maximum is 324 square feet, and no piece larger than 18 feet by 18 feet.
• Grills: remove the charcoal and the propane tank first.
• Push lawnmowers: remove the gas tank and drain the oil. (Riding mowers aren’t accepted.)
• Doors and cabinets: household items, not renovation debris.
• Toilets, and kitchen or bathroom sinks. Other sinks aren’t listed.
• Console or tube TVs are on the standard bulky list. Flat-screen TVs are not accepted with regular trash-day bulky pickup; see the electronics appointment guidance below.
• Bags of small household items: knick-knacks, décor, lamps, and small kitchen appliances like toasters, toaster ovens, blenders, air fryers and crock pots. Use heavy-duty bags with a 60-pound limit per bag. Each bag counts as one of your four items.

Not sure where your item fits? Can They Take This? walks you through 22 common household items, one question at a time, and links each answer to its county source.

Appointment through PGC311: schedule first

Schedule these first, then set them out on the date PGC311 gives you. Setting them out on a regular trash day without an appointment means they won’t be picked up.

• White goods and large appliances: washers, dryers, stoves and furnaces, plus anything with refrigerant: refrigerators, freezers, ice machines and air conditioning units. Tape all doors shut. Up to four per appointment. (“White goods” is just the industry term for big appliances. Your stainless steel fridge counts.)
• Vehicle tires: no truck tires. Up to four per appointment.
• Scrap metal: curbside scrap metal pickup is by appointment only, on the third Monday of every month. The county’s examples include metal file cabinets, baker’s racks, metal chairs, framing, end tables, light fixtures (bulbs removed), metal home décor, rakes, wheelbarrows and water heaters.
• Electronics: flat-screen TVs, computers and printers don’t go out with trash-day bulky pickup. The county’s residential trash page describes curbside electronics recycling by appointment, on the same third-Monday schedule as scrap metal, for homes with county trash service (the service started in July 2024).

Two things the county’s own pages don’t agree on

We’d rather tell you about a conflict than pretend it isn’t there.

• Water heaters appear on both the standard bulky list and the scrap metal appointment list. Confirm the route with PGC311 before you move one.
• Electronics: the county’s electronics directory still says at-home e-waste collection ended in June 2022, but that note sits under its senior and disabled collection section. The newer residential trash page describes the monthly electronics appointments above. Confirm the current pickup option for your address with PGC311 before setting electronics out.

Not accepted with regular trash-day bulky pickup

The county’s standard bulky list excludes the items below. Electronics may have a separate appointment route; construction, cleanup and hazardous materials need other disposal options. The excluded items include:

• Construction and demolition debris, home renovation and remodeling debris, fencing, sheds, gazebos, shingles and roofing
• Glass, mirrors, windows and siding
• Lumber and wood that isn’t furniture, skids and pallets, soil, rocks, tree stumps and logs
• Paint, sewage, septic waste and other liquids, plus chemical or petroleum cleanup waste
• Batteries, asbestos, ash, compressed gas cylinders, and hazardous or medical waste
• Cars and auto parts, riding lawnmowers, metal poles and playground equipment
• Plastic packing materials and plastic sheeting
• Drums, tanks, kegs or barrels over 55 gallons, unless the sides are removed and the vessel is flattened
• Computers, printers and flat-screen TVs: not with regular trash-day bulky pickup. Our TV disposal guide covers the options. Confirm a separate electronics appointment or current drop-off option with PGC311.
• Regular household trash

The county also won’t collect bulky material from evictions, foreclosures, unoccupied properties, commercial properties, apartment complexes, home renovations or clean-lot enforcement. In those cases, the homeowner, landlord, contractor or business owner is responsible for disposal.

Step 3: Set it out the right way

Getting the route right is half the job. The other half is setting it out where and when the hauler expects it.

Where

Right next to your trash cart, at the curb, on your regular collection day. Not behind the cart, not on the side of the house, and not in a shared parking lot or common area.

When

The county’s bulky trash page says items must be at the curb by 5 a.m. on collection day. A separate county page lists 6 a.m. for regular trash carts, so 5 a.m. is the safer target. Setting things out the night before makes the 5 a.m. cutoff easier, as long as your HOA or community rules allow it. (The county allows trash carts out after 6 p.m. the day before.)

The county also publishes temporary early-start schedules in hot weather. Check its current notice, and have everything out early.

How many

Four bulky items or four bags of small household items per week. It’s four total, not four of each. Anything beyond four won’t be collected and needs to come back inside until the following week.

That limit matters most during a big clean-out. If you have seven things to get rid of, plan for two trash days: four this week, three next week. Stacking everything at once usually means the extras sit at the curb all week.

Before you walk away

• Mattress or box spring? Fully covered in plastic.
• Grill? Propane tank and charcoal out.
• Mower? Gas tank off, oil drained.
• Carpet? Rolled, tied and within the size limit.
• Small items? Bagged, tied, and each bag under 60 pounds.
• Appliance or tires? Don’t put them out unless you have a PGC311 appointment.

Step 4: If your item needs an appointment

Appliances, car tires, scrap metal and electronics go through PGC311, the county’s service request system.

• Online: pgc311.com
• Phone: 311 from inside the county, or 301-883-4748. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Have this ready

• Your service address
• A short list of the items (for example: “one refrigerator, one washer”)
• Any details the agent asks about, such as whether a fridge still has its doors

What to ask

If you’re unsure about anything, a quick call can confirm it. Try:

“I have county trash service at [address]. I need to get rid of [item]. Does it go out with my regular bulky trash, or do I need an appointment? If it’s an appointment, can we schedule it now?”

Then follow the instructions you get, especially the date. A set-out on the wrong day is the same as no appointment.

What it looks like in real life

Here’s how the rules play out in a few common situations. These are illustrations, not real customer stories.

Moving out of a house with county service. You’ve got a couch, a headboard, a mattress and a box of old lamps. That’s four items if the lamps go in one bag. The mattress needs a plastic cover. Set everything out next to your cart by 5 a.m. on trash day. If there’s a fridge staying behind that needs to go, schedule it separately through PGC311.

A weekend garage clean-out. You find a push mower, an old grill, two chairs, a metal shelving unit and three bags of junk. That’s more than four. Put out the mower (gas tank off, oil drained), the grill (tank and charcoal out) and the two chairs this week, and the bags next week. The metal shelving may belong in the monthly scrap metal appointment. Ask PGC311.

Replacing your fridge. Some retailers offer haul-away when they deliver a new appliance, so ask about that when you buy. If you’re handling it yourself, schedule a PGC311 appliance pickup and tape the doors shut. Don’t set it out on a regular trash day without an appointment.

Renting in an apartment complex, or using a private hauler. Skip the county route. Ask your management office or hauler how bulky items are handled before you take anything outside.

A kitchen remodel. Cabinets are on the accepted list, but the county excludes renovation and remodeling debris. If your cabinets came out of a remodel, ask PGC311 before setting them out. Drywall, countertops, flooring and other remodel debris aren’t collected. Renovation debris is the contractor’s or owner’s responsibility. If you’re doing the work yourself, see the drop-off section below.

If your bulky items weren’t picked up

Full walkthrough: Bulky trash not picked up? What to check next covers timing, holiday and weather delays, and how to report a missed pickup.

First, run through the likely causes:

• Was it your regular collection day, and was everything out by 5 a.m.?
• Was it next to your cart, not in a common area?
• Was it more than four items?
• Did the item need an appointment, like an appliance or tires?
• Was it prepped correctly: mattress covered, carpet rolled and tied, bags under 60 pounds?
• Does the county actually collect your trash, or does your city, building, HOA or a private hauler?

If everything checks out, the county says to report a missed collection through PGC311, starting at noon on your regular collection day.

Want to take it yourself?

If you have a vehicle and don’t want to wait, Prince George’s County has resident drop-off options at Brown Station Road in Upper Marlboro. There are two sites with similar names, and the county’s pages describe them a little differently:

• The Brown Station Road Convenience Center at 3501 Brown Station Road. The landfill page says standard bulky household items go here, including furniture, mattresses, cabinets, doors and carpet, along with appliances and scrap metal.
• The Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill at 11611 White House Road. Its page lists hours of Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and says proof of residency is required.

The official pages don’t fully agree on fees and some details right now. One FAQ mentions a nominal $10 fee for pickup trucks. The landfill page describes free drop-off at the convenience centers for residential, unmodified cars, SUVs and pickups up to ¾ ton (trailers don’t qualify), and gives two different per-ton rates for commercial-type loads. Check the official landfill page or call 311 before you load the car.

A few drop-off details stated on the county’s pages:

• The county’s bulky trash page says a mattress you take to the landfill yourself doesn’t need a plastic cover.
• Construction and demolition material: one non-commercial, non-modified pickup or small-trailer load per county property per year, brought by the property owner with proof of residency. Size limits apply.
• Electronics: the landfill page says the e-waste and household hazardous waste lots at the landfill are closed until further notice and sends electronics to the convenience center. Use current facility notices and confirm the destination with 311 before you travel.

Before you toss it: donate or give it away

If your item still works, someone may want it. The county keeps a list of reuse and donation alternatives, including charities that take furniture and appliances, building-material reuse, and free giveaway sites. Each organization has its own rules about what it accepts, and some offer pickup only in certain areas, so check their guidelines first.

Common mistakes that get bulky items left behind

1. Following an old “two items” rule and putting out half of what you could.
2. Putting out more than four and expecting the extras to go.
3. Setting out an appliance without a PGC311 appointment.
4. Leaving a mattress uncovered.
5. Putting items in a shared area instead of at your own curb.
6. Mixing in renovation debris like drywall, flooring or old fencing.
7. Assuming county rules apply when your city or building handles collection.
8. Putting out a flat-screen TV or computer on trash day. Electronics need their own PGC311 appointment.

Quick checklist

• ☐ I confirmed the county collects my trash (not my city, building, HOA or a private hauler).
• ☐ My items are on the curbside list, or I have a PGC311 appointment for them.
• ☐ I have four items or fewer this week.
• ☐ Mattresses and box springs are fully covered in plastic.
• ☐ Grills, mowers, carpet and bags are prepped.
• ☐ Everything is next to my trash cart by 5 a.m. on my collection day.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to call 311 to get rid of a couch in PG County?
Not if you have county-contracted trash service. Put it next to your trash cart on your regular collection day. It counts as one of your four bulky items for the week.

How many bulky items can I put out?
Four per week, or four tightly secured bags of small household items. Four total, not four of each.

Is it still two bulky items?
No. The limit went from two to four on July 1, 2024. Older pages that say two are out of date.

Does my mattress need to be wrapped?
Yes. For curbside pickup, mattresses and box springs must be completely covered in plastic. The county says mattresses you take to the landfill yourself don’t need a cover.

Can I put my old refrigerator out with my trash?
Only with a PGC311 appointment, and with the doors taped shut. That goes for all large appliances, including washers, dryers, stoves and AC units.

What time should bulky trash be out?
The county’s bulky trash page says by 5 a.m. on your collection day.

Will the county pick up a flat-screen TV?
Not with regular trash-day bulky pickup. The county’s residential trash page describes monthly curbside electronics appointments for homes with county service, but an older county page conflicts. Confirm the current pickup option for your address with PGC311 before setting it out.

I live in an apartment, or a private hauler collects my trash. Can I use county bulky pickup?
County bulky collection excludes materials from apartment complexes. Ask your property management or hauler how bulky items are handled.

My bulky items weren’t picked up. What now?
Check that they were next to your cart, out by 5 a.m., within the four-item limit, prepped correctly, and didn’t need an appointment. Then report the missed collection through PGC311, starting at noon on your collection day.

More Kalm Kode guides

• How to get a mattress picked up: wrapping, counting and setting it out
• Bulky trash not picked up?: what to check, and when to report it
• Who maintains my road?: county, state, city or HOA, and where to report a pothole
• How to get rid of a TV: tube TVs, flat screens and free e-waste events

Official sources

Checked October 8, 2026:

• Bulky Trash, Prince George’s County
• Acceptable and Non-acceptable Bulky Trash
• FAQ: Can I set out appliances and scrap tires without an appointment?
• Residential Collections (Clear the Curb)
• Residential Trash Collection
• Electronics Recycling Acceptance
• Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill
• Recycling and Reuse Alternatives
• City of Hyattsville: Bulk Waste and Special Services
• County news, September 26, 2023 (older two-item limit)

Rules change. If anything here doesn’t match what PGC311 tells you, go with PGC311, and message us at @kalmkode so we can update this guide.