In Norfolk, you cannot just drag a couch to the curb. Bulk waste pickups must be scheduled through the MyNorfolk portal, the mobile app or Norfolk Cares at (757) 664-6510, and the city caps how much it will take. This guide covers the limits, the timing, the items the city refuses and what to do with everything else.
TL;DR
- Schedule every bulk pickup with the city by 3 p.m. the day before. Unscheduled piles can draw a Notice of Violation.
- Set items out from 5 p.m. the night before until 7 a.m. on collection day. Collection is limited to 12 bulk pickups per year and 3 cubic yards each.
- Hazardous waste, e-waste and business-generated waste follow different rules and different drop-off points.
- When you are over the limit, on a deadline or clearing a whole home, a hauler like Pinky’s can take it all in one visit. Single items start from $48.
Table of Contents
- What counts as bulk waste in Norfolk
- How to schedule a bulk pickup
- The limits that trip people up
- Yard waste is its own category
- E-waste, tires and hazardous items
- Taking it to the SPSA transfer station yourself
- Businesses, landlords and rentals follow different rules
- When the city route does not fit
- What hauling costs with Pinky’s
- Our perspective: use the city for what it does well
- Book a pickup in Norfolk
- FAQ
- Sources
What counts as bulk waste in Norfolk
The city’s definition is simple. Bulk waste is anything that will not fit in the green, 90-gallon container the city issues. Think sofas, mattresses, box springs, large furniture, water heaters, and appliances such as washers and refrigerators.
The city’s disposal lookup also lists some items that must not go in your trash or recycling bin at all. Glass doors and windows are one example. They must be placed outside the 90-gallon container, with the glass taped in sections to prevent shattering, or in a cardboard box beside your can.
If you are unsure about a specific item, the city runs a search tool called the Waste Wizard. You type in anything from an aerosol can to a yoga mat, and it tells you which bin it belongs in.
How to schedule a bulk pickup
The process is the same whether you own or rent, as long as the address gets city collection.
- Request it by 3 p.m. the day before. The city says requests must be made by 3 p.m. the day prior to collection, using the MyNorfolk mobile app (iOS and Android) or the Citizen Services Portal.
- Or call. Norfolk Cares takes requests at (757) 664-6510. Email requests are also accepted.
- Know your day. Collection happens on your normal trash day. Look it up with the city’s Collection Schedule Search.
- Put items out in the window. Items may go to the curb beginning at 5 p.m. the day before and no later than 7 a.m. on collection day.
- Keep the path clear. Items must not be blocked by vehicles, trees, poles, mailboxes, fences or low hanging overhead wires.
If a scheduled item is not collected, the city says it will be picked up the following week. It also asks you to bring in anything left at the curb, which keeps you clear of a violation.
The city has said its bulk schedule can be modified, collections limited and pickups delayed at times. Treat the date you get as a target, not a guarantee, especially after storms or around holidays.
The limits that trip people up
| Rule | What the city says |
|---|---|
| Annual cap | 12 bulk waste collections per year |
| Size per collection | No more than 3 cubic yards |
| Tires | 4 per collection day, 12 per year (non-commercial sizes) |
| Large limbs | Over 6 inches in diameter or 4 feet long must be scheduled |
| Bagged yard waste | Up to 20 clear bags of 45 pounds or less, or 20 bundles up to 3 cubic feet |
| Appliances | Must be free of trash and debris |
All of these come from the city’s General Set-Out Rules. Larger jobs can be arranged as a special collection, but the city notes fees apply.
Three cubic yards sounds generous until you picture it. That is roughly a sofa, a mattress and a few chairs. A garage cleanout or a full bedroom set-out can blow past it in one go.
Unscheduled piles
The most common mistake is setting something out because “the truck comes Tuesday anyway.” Under the current rules, residents who set out bulk waste that has not been scheduled may receive a Notice of Violation. Schedule first, then set out.
Construction and renovation debris
Do not count on the curb for remodeling waste. The city’s waste management guidelines say construction materials never go in the 90-gallon can. Drywall, lumber, tile and old cabinets are a contractor, dumpster or hauler job. If you are hiring a contractor, ask in writing who removes the debris.
Yard waste is its own category
Norfolk handles yard waste separately from bulk waste. Up to 20 clear bags weighing no more than 45 pounds each, or 20 bundles, are accepted per collection, and the waste must not be contaminated with other debris. Anything beyond that, including big limbs, needs a scheduled collection. Lawn services and contractors are responsible for removing the yard waste they generate, so do not let your landscaper leave a pile for the city.
E-waste, tires and hazardous items
This is where residents get caught, because the answer is not the curb.
Electronics. Norfolk residents take e-waste to the SPSA Norfolk Transfer Station at 3136 Woodland Avenue, free of charge. The city lists a limit of five e-waste items per visit.
Household hazardous waste. Paint thinner, pesticides and similar products are not curbside items. SPSA says HHW and e-waste do not count toward the 12-visit limit, so residents are not charged for those drop-offs. You need a valid driver’s license or proof of residence.
Special collection events. Keep Norfolk Beautiful hosts two Special Waste Collection Events each year, one in spring and one in fall. They are drive-up events for items that do not belong in curbside trash or recycling. Check the page for the current date.
Tires. The curb limit is four per collection day and twelve per year. If you have more, you need another route. If you hire us, tires carry a small surcharge: $15 for a car tire and $30 for a truck tire, as listed on our pricing page.
Taking it to the SPSA transfer station yourself
The other free option is hauling it yourself. SPSA’s residential guidelines give service-area residents free household waste disposal, limited to 12 visits per calendar year, with proof of residency such as a driver’s license or utility bill.
The Norfolk site has an unusual schedule. Per the same SPSA page, no residential waste is accepted Monday through Friday. Saturday 8 a.m. to noon is open to commercial customers and Norfolk residents. Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. are for Norfolk residents only. Hours change, so confirm before you load the truck.
Be honest about the cost of this route: a pickup or trailer, a free weekend afternoon, help lifting, and a line on busy Saturdays. For a single chair, it is a good deal. For a sleeper sofa and two dressers, it is a long day.
Businesses, landlords and rentals follow different rules
The residential programs are for residents. SPSA’s guidance points out that business-generated waste is subject to different commercial disposal protocols, and small business owners and landlords are often surprised to learn they cannot use the residential facilities for it. If you clear out a rental unit, an office or a storefront, plan on a commercial route, not the curb or the resident drop-off.
Landlords also have to think about what they are allowed to throw out in the first place, since tenant property can carry legal obligations. A useful overview is this landlord cleaning compliance guide. Our own walkthroughs cover the eviction cleanout process and what to do when a tenant leaves junk behind.
When the city route does not fit
The city program is a good deal for occasional single items. It struggles in these situations:
- You have hit the cap. Twelve collections go quickly during a big project.
- You are on a deadline. A 3 p.m. cutoff the day before and a collection on your normal trash day will not work for a Friday closing or a Monday move-out.
- It is too big or too heavy. More than 3 cubic yards, hot tubs, above-ground pools, boats, campers or a full estate.
- You cannot lift it. City crews take what is at the curb. They do not come in and carry it from the basement.
- It is not residential waste. Rental turnovers, offices and contractor debris.
Military families and PCS moves
A PCS move compresses everything. You may have days, not weeks, to clear a garage, donate furniture and pass a housing inspection. Waiting for a scheduled city pickup, with a limit on volume, is risky. We specialize in moving and cleanout work for Norfolk-area military families, with same-day and next-day availability.
Downsizing and estates
For seniors downsizing and adult children settling a parent’s house, the problem is volume and emotion, not the rules. We handle estate cleanouts and donate and recycle whenever possible.
What hauling costs with Pinky’s
Our prices are published, so you can compare them with the cost of your own time and truck.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Single item pickup | From $48 |
| Volume-based truck pricing | $164 to $698 |
| Bedload pricing (heavy debris) | $286 to $698 |
| Car tire surcharge | $15 |
| Truck tire surcharge | $30 |
| Labor surcharge | $100 per hour per person |
Full details are on our pricing page. The price is set upfront, with no hidden fees. Staging items in one spot the night before also helps, and we explain how in our night-before prep guide.
Our perspective: use the city for what it does well
We are a locally owned, family-run company in Norfolk, and we will say plainly that the city’s bulk program is worth using. It is free, and for a worn-out recliner or a bagged-up yard cleanup it is the right call.
What we see on the other side is the job that does not fit. A family has sixty days of a parent’s belongings and a realtor’s deadline. A military family has a move-out inspection on Thursday. A landlord has a unit full of leftovers and a new tenant arriving. For those jobs, the question is not what is cheapest per item. It is how fast you can be done and whether it was done right.
That is why we built our service around easy booking, clear communication, a fair price upfront, on-time arrival and doing it right the first time. When you call, a local person answers, not a national call center. Whatever we pick up, we try to donate or recycle first. If your item is better handled at the SPSA station or a special collection event, we will tell you that too.
— David
Book a pickup in Norfolk
If the city’s limits or timing do not fit your project, we offer same-day and next-day junk removal across Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News. Schedule a pickup online, or call 1-800-41-PINKY. For furniture and appliances in particular, see our furniture and appliance removal page.
FAQ
How do I schedule a bulk pickup in Norfolk?
Use the MyNorfolk portal or mobile app, or call Norfolk Cares at (757) 664-6510. Requests must be made by 3 p.m. the day before collection, and pickup happens on your regular trash day. Put items out no earlier than 5 p.m. the night before.
How many bulk pickups do Norfolk residents get per year?
The city limits collection to 12 bulk waste pickups per year, at no more than 3 cubic yards each. Larger special collections can be arranged, but fees apply.
Where do I take electronics in Norfolk?
Norfolk residents take e-waste to the SPSA Norfolk Transfer Station at 3136 Woodland Avenue, free of charge. The city lists a limit of five items per visit, so check before you load a whole home office. Bring ID or proof of residence.
Can a business or landlord use the free residential drop-off?
No. SPSA says business-generated waste falls under commercial disposal protocols, not the residential program. Landlords and small businesses should plan for a commercial route or a hauler.
Can I put out a bulk item without scheduling it?
It is risky. Norfolk says residents who set out bulk waste that has not been scheduled may receive a Notice of Violation. Schedule first, then put the item at the curb during the allowed window.
Sources
- General Set-Out Rules, City of Norfolk
- Trash & Recycling, City of Norfolk
- How Do I Dispose Of…, City of Norfolk
- Collection Schedule Search, City of Norfolk
- Recycling and the Waste Wizard, City of Norfolk
- Waste Management Guidelines, City of Norfolk
- Special Waste Collection Events, City of Norfolk
- Household Hazardous Waste & E-Waste Guidelines, SPSA
- Residential Waste Disposal Guidelines, SPSA
