Quick answer
The main public disposal options for Oakland and Alameda County are the Davis Street Transfer Station in San Leandro (general junk, appliances, e-waste, green waste, mattresses), the Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste facility at 2100 East 7th Street in Oakland (free drop-off for paint, chemicals, batteries, and electronics), and Oakland's free curbside bulky-item pickup (call 1-888-WM-Bulky). Full details, addresses, and hours are below.
Please note: Hours and fees can change — call ahead to confirm before you go.
Transfer Station & General Disposal
For a mixed load of general junk, debris, or bulky items you're hauling yourself, the Davis Street Transfer Station in San Leandro is the main public facility serving Oakland and the rest of Alameda County.
| Facility | Address & phone | Hours | Accepts | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis Street Transfer Station (WM) | 2615 Davis St, San Leandro, CA 94577 510-638-2303 | Mon–Fri 7 AM–5 PM Sat 8 AM–4 PM Sun closed | General junk/trash, construction & demolition debris, appliances, e-waste, green/yard waste, reusable goods, mattresses | Charged by weight/volume (gate rate); first 5 mattresses/box springs per day free |
Household Hazardous Waste & E-Waste
Paint, chemicals, batteries, and electronics can't go in your trash cart or on a junk truck. Alameda County runs a free drop-off facility in Oakland for exactly these items.
| Facility | Address | Hours | Cost & requirements | Accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Facility | 2100 East 7th Street, Oakland StopWaste.org/hhw or 1-800-606-6606 | Wed–Fri 9 AM–2:30 PM Sat 9 AM–4 PM Closed Sun–Tue | FREE for Alameda County residents, no appointment needed. Bring valid ID showing an Alameda County address. | Paint, solvents, pesticides, motor oil, antifreeze, propane tanks, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, thermometers, and electronics/e-waste (TVs, computers, monitors) |
More detail on what qualifies as hazardous and what doesn't is in our Oakland household hazardous waste guide, and for computers, TVs, and monitors specifically, see e-waste disposal in Oakland.
Mattress Recycling
Alameda County residents can recycle mattresses for free through the Bye Bye Mattress program at the Davis Street Transfer Station — up to 5 mattresses or box springs per day, at no cost.
Not accepted: wet, severely damaged, or bed-bug-infested mattresses, mattress toppers, futons, sofa-bed mattresses, crib mattresses, and air mattresses.
Recycled mattresses are broken down into carpet padding, steel, insulation, and mulch. For the full walkthrough, read how to dispose of a mattress in Oakland.
Appliances & Refrigerators (Freon)
Refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioning units contain freon, and the refrigerant must be recovered by an EPA Section 608–certified technician before the unit can be disposed of. That's the step most people don't realize is required.
- Davis Street Transfer Station has an appliance drop-off.
- PG&E has offered a free pickup and recycling program (sometimes with a rebate) for old working fridges and freezers — check pge.com for current availability.
See our full appliance and e-waste disposal guide for details.
Free City Bulky-Item Pickup
Oakland Recycles offers curbside bulky-item pickup at no charge. Schedule it by calling 1-888-WM-Bulky.
- Covers up to roughly 4 cubic yards per appointment.
- Accepts furniture, mattresses, large appliances, electronics, tires, and carpet.
- Appointment-based — you place the items at the curb yourself on the scheduled day.
Our Oakland bulky pickup and junk disposal guide covers how the program works step by step.
Donation & Reuse (Free or Low-Cost Pickup)
If your furniture or household goods are still usable, donation is usually the fastest and cheapest route — several Oakland-area organizations will come get them.
| Organization | Takes | Pickup |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley ReStore | Furniture & building materials | Free pickup of qualifying items |
| Goodwill | Furniture & household goods | Free scheduled pickup (same-day available via TaskRabbit) |
| Salvation Army Family Store | Furniture & household goods | Scheduled pickup |
| East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse | Small furniture, décor, household goods | 510-547-6535 |
| Uhuru Furniture & Collectibles (Oakland) | Furniture donations | — |
When to Just Hire a Hauler
Self-hauling and free programs work well when you have time, a truck, and items you can lift. Hiring a junk removal service makes more sense when:
- You can't wait for an appointment and need it gone today.
- You don't have a truck.
- Items are heavy, upstairs, or still inside the house.
- The load exceeds the ~4 cubic yard free pickup limit.
- You have a mixed load that would otherwise mean several separate trips.
Pricing is volume-based and quoted upfront: a single item starts from $150, a partial load is $250, and a full truck is $500+. See our full pricing breakdown.