California note
Berkeley bulky waste and mattress pickup are different
Berkeley gives residents separate paths for prepaid extra bags, bulky waste pickup, mattress recycling, and Transfer Station drop-off, so the item type matters.
Berkeley has a few ways to handle extra stuff, and they are not all the same. Prepaid bags are for extra trash or plant debris that will not fit in the regular cart. They go beside the cart on the normal pickup day, and they need to be city prepaid bags.
Bulky waste pickup is a different lane. Property owners of one- to four-unit residential buildings can schedule one free bulky pickup per calendar year at no added charge, up to 3 cubic yards. Pickups happen on Wednesdays, with accepted and excluded items separated so hazardous waste, mattresses, appliances, electronics, and regular recyclables do not get mixed into the same pile.
Mattresses have their own recycling path. A resident may be able to drop off mattresses at the Berkeley Transfer Station or schedule curbside pickup, but wet, moldy, damaged, or bed-bug-infested mattresses do not fit that clean recycling lane.
For a garage cleanout or move, sort the pile before setting anything outside. A couch, mattress, paint can, appliance, bag of yard waste, and box of electronics may all leave the house, but Berkeley sends them through different doors.
Where to see it
Berkeley prepaid bag, bulky waste, mattress recycling, and Transfer Station pages.
Official sources
Official pages
Reviewed July 6, 2026
Current rules, forms, fees, deadlines, maps, and office instructions.
Rules, forms, fees, deadlines, and office procedures can change. Check the current page before you file, pay, or rely on a date.
Connected places
Open the local directory
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