Moving Out? Pack it Out!

Please be a good neighbor by properly removing unwanted furniture and other belongings. Items left outside, even with a “free” sign, are rarely picked up by someone who needs them and often create more problems than solutions. 

Leaving furniture on sidewalks or grass creates a mess and can be genuinely hazardous for our community. These unclaimed items quickly become litter, posing tripping hazards for pedestrians and blocking pathways. Large pieces can also cause traffic obstruction, blocking sightlines for drivers and cyclists and increasing the risk of accidents.  

It’s not just about human safety, though; discarded furniture can harm wildlife if animals become trapped or ingest debris. These items can also lead to waterway pollution: rain washes smaller pieces and chemicals from deteriorating furniture into storm drains, ultimately polluting our local creeks, lakes, and Bellingham Bay. 

Instead of leaving unwanted items outside, please take advantage of the many responsible disposal options available. Use the following guide to find the best home for your unwanted items. 

Many local organizations welcome gently used goods, and some will even pick them up from your home for free. Please check their website or call ahead to confirm they can accept your items, as the information in the table below is subject to change.

OrganizationWhat’s Accepted
How to Donate
Habitat for Humanity (Whatcom County) Furniture, home goods, building supplies, clothing & fabrics In-person drop-off or scheduled pickup 
The RE Store Furniture and building supplies In-person drop-off or scheduled pickup 
Goodwill / Value Village Furniture, appliances, clothing, electronics, and more In-person drop-off 
Ragfinery Clothing in good, wearable condition In-person drop-off 
Y’s Buys Clothing in good, wearable condition In-person drop-off 
Lydia Place Home/cleaning supplies, hygiene items In-person drop-off 
Whatcom Humane Society Pet supplies In-person drop-off 

If you are an organization and would like to be added to this list, please contact askPW@cob.org

Want to make some extra cash? Host a garage sale or list your items online using platforms like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. 

WWU Students: Check out the WWU and Bellingham Buy/Trade/Sell Facebook group to connect directly with other students. 

Stay Safe When Selling Online

Always practice caution when meeting an online stranger in person. Meet in a public, visible place and bring a friend. The Bellingham Police Department offers two “Safe Exchange” parking spots in front of their building in downtown Bellingham at 505 Grand Avenue. These parking spots provide a safe place for individuals to meet to buy or sell items online. 

If your items can’t be donated or sold, use these local resources to recycle or dispose of them properly. 

Not sure where an item goes? Use Whatcom County’s WasteWise tool to look up how to properly recycle or dispose of hundreds of specific items.

Curbside and drop-off services

From curbside pickup to specialized recycling centers, Bellingham and Whatcom County offer several ways to dispose of unwanted items responsibly. Be sure to check each facility’s website or call ahead to confirm their accepted items and pricing. 

  • Sanitary Service Company (SSC) 
    • What they accept: Bulky items (appliances, furniture, mattresses, electronics) and yard waste. 
    • How to dispose: Scheduled curbside pickup (fees apply) or in-person drop-off at their recycling centers. 
  • Recycling and Disposal Services, Inc. (RDS)  
    • What they accept: Garbage, recycling, yard waste, and more. They also accept certain electronics free of charge through the E-Cycle Washington program. 
    • How to dispose: Open daily for in-person drop-off, fees apply.  
  • Ridwell 
    • What they accept: Hard-to-recycle items like lightbulbs, batteries, plastic film, and threads. 
    • How to dispose: Bi-weekly doorstep pickup via their paid subscription service. 
  • Cascade Compost and Soil 
    • What they accept: Food scraps, grass clippings, brush, and yard waste. 
    • How to dispose: In-person drop-off for professional composting (fees apply).  
  • Lautenbach Recycling 
    • What they accept: Scrap metal, wood, and cardboard. 
    • How to dispose: In-person drop-off, fees may apply.  

General junk removal

If you need hands-on help hauling away large volumes of clutter, consider contacting a professional junk removal service for a scheduled pickup. You can do an online search for junk removal services to find local options.

Hazardous Waste

Never put hazardous materials in your regular trash. Take items like automotive products, fluorescent lights, lawn chemicals, oil-based paint, and mercury thermometers to the Disposal of Toxics Facility for safe disposal. 

Additional Resources

Contact Information

Please contact ​​​​​​​askPW@cob.org​ with questions or concerns. ​

Our public calendar is being upgraded and may be unavailable for periods of time on Friday, Jun 19.

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