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Richland County, SC Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Item limit
4 bulk items per scheduled appointment
Cost
No extra charge for curbside customers
White goods rule
Appliance doors must be removed before pickup
Excluded items
Electronics, pool tables, pianos, riding mowers, demolition debris
Governing section
Richland County Code § 12-23, § 12-24

Summary

Richland County will haul away large household items like furniture, mattresses and appliances at no extra charge, but only by appointment under Sec. 12-23. Curbside customers get up to four bulk items per scheduled pickup, and nothing may be left at the curb without a confirmed appointment already booked.

City-specific rules exist: Columbia has its own bulk item disposal rules that differ from Richland County's county-level regulations. If you live in Columbia, check the city-specific page instead.

Residential/Small Business curbside collection customers may request, at no extra charge, the pickup and disposal of Bulk Items such as indoor and outdoor furniture, large yard toys, mattresses, etc. by requesting an appointment for pickup. Bulk Items shall only be placed at curbside following a confirmed, scheduled appointment for pickup and shall not remain at curbside indefinitely. Limit of four items per appointment request.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-24: This supplement is current through Ordinance No. 033-25HR).

Full Breakdown

Section 12-23 lets any Residential/Small Business Curbside Collection Program customer request pickup of Bulk Items, indoor and outdoor furniture, large yard toys, mattresses and similar large goods, at no extra charge, but only by calling ahead and getting a scheduled appointment. Items go to the curb only once that appointment is confirmed, and they cannot simply sit out indefinitely; the ordinance caps each request at four items. Large appliances are handled the same way but under their own section: Sec. 12-24 classifies White Goods, refrigerators, washers, and similar large appliances, with Bulk Items for collection purposes, and adds one extra step, doors must be removed before the appliance is placed at curbside.

The definitions section clarifies what does and does not count as a Bulk Item: gym and exercise equipment, pianos, organs, pool tables, electronics, riding mowers, automotive equipment, fencing, decks, swimming pools larger than a small plastic pool, animal shelters, and any demolition or building debris are excluded outright, along with anything too heavy for two adults to lift by hand (Sec. 12-2). Residents with excluded items or larger volumes have to use a Drop-Off Center instead, where Bulk Items and White Goods generated at a resident's own domicile can be brought in directly, subject to quantity limits the Director of Public Works may set for efficiency (Sec. 12-37, Sec. 12-38).

Violations & Fines

Setting out more than four bulk items per appointment, or leaving items at curbside without first securing a scheduled pickup, means the extra material simply is not collected; it becomes the resident's responsibility to remove or re-schedule. Bulk waste left indefinitely at curbside without an appointment can be treated as a non-compliant pile and, after 15 days uncorrected, cited as illegal dumping under Sec. 12-67(f).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a couch or mattress picked up in Richland County?
Call and schedule an appointment through the Residential/Small Business Curbside Collection Program under Sec. 12-23. There is no extra charge, but you cannot just set the item out; it has to wait at the curb until your confirmed appointment date, and the request is capped at four bulk items at a time.
Do I need to do anything to a refrigerator before putting it out?
Yes. Sec. 12-24 requires the doors be removed from refrigerators and other large appliances (White Goods) before they are placed at curbside for collection, in addition to booking the same appointment process used for bulk furniture items.
Will Richland County collect a riding mower or a pool table as bulk waste?
No. The county's definition of Bulk Waste in Sec. 12-2 specifically excludes riding mowers, pool tables, pianos, organs, gym equipment, electronics, automotive equipment, fencing, decks, and demolition debris. Those items have to be taken to a permitted disposal facility or handled through a private hauler instead.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Richland County

All Richland County rules

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