In Taipei and New Taipei, large discarded furniture such as spring mattresses, sofas, and wardrobe cabinets cannot simply be dumped on curbsides or mixed into regular garbage truck (垃圾車) collections. In Taipei City, residents must phone their local district sanitation squad or book via the municipal petition system. In New Taipei City, residents must utilize the Environmental Protection Department's online oversized furniture booking portal or contact district sanitation teams. In New Taipei, large household appliances (such as washing machines) are classified as recyclable resources and must be arranged directly with the local sanitation squad. Following advance booking, items must be placed at the designated location and time, where household furniture is collected free of charge by municipal authorities.
Below is an itemized breakdown of booking procedures, accepted items, and non-qualifying exclusions for both municipalities. Because telephone numbers and local guidelines are updated periodically, this guide provides official service portals rather than fixed phone lists. Unspecified local rules default to local sanitation squad announcements. For sorting protocols, consult our garbage disposal guide tool.
Important Notice: Official guidelines from the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department (新北市環保局) state that sanitation personnel cannot enter private residences to assist with moving items due to statutory regulations; residents should enlist family or a neighborhood chief (里長, lǐzhǎng) to help transport heavy items to designated curbsides. Carrying heavy mattresses and wardrobes down narrow stairs carries acute risks of spinal injury or falls. In Taipei City, an administrative guideline amended in 2004 (民國 93 年) instructed households to dismantle bulky waste before pickup; current FAQ pages do not repeat this mandate. Because dismantling carries risks of lacerations or puncture wounds from nails, verify with local squads before disassembly.
Booking Procedure Comparison Between Taipei and New Taipei
| Item | Taipei City | New Taipei City |
|---|---|---|
| Booking Channels | Call local district sanitation teams or log into the Taipei City Petition System (path: case registration > garbage, noise, pollution, and recycling > oversized waste pickup dispatch). Official portals include scheduling PDF forms across 12 administrative districts. | Online furniture booking via the Oversized Furniture Online Booking System (hfas.ntpc.gov.tw); large appliances (washing machines) arranged directly with district teams; district phone numbers found via New Taipei Rubbish Car contact pages; toll-free bulky waste hotline 0800-010-857. |
| Scheduling Lead Time | Schedule booking at least 1 day prior to the intended discharge date. | Select dates and morning/afternoon pickup slots online; daily capacity is capped by district squads, after which slots close. |
| Discharge Protocol | Place items at agreed times and locations; teams typically instruct residents to place items after 21:00 at night for next-day pickup; only place booked items without unlisted extras. Collections run Monday through Saturday with no Sunday service. | Applications are complete only upon receiving an official review confirmation email; discharge items strictly adhering to assigned times and locations to avoid fines. Avoid unannounced dumping. |
| Target Applicants | General households and residents; mixed residential-commercial businesses, institutions, schools, military units, and corporations are excluded. | Official forms specify service applies strictly to residential household furniture; non-household commercial applications will be rejected. |
| Service Fees | Free municipal collection. | Official guidelines state free collection for standard household furniture replacement. |
Qualifying Bulky Waste Items Accepted for Collection
Official FAQ guidelines from the Taipei City Department of Environmental Protection (臺北市環保局) identify eligible household bulky waste:
- Discarded Furniture: Innerspring mattresses, bed frames, handcarts, bicycles, electric bicycles, micro electric two-wheelers, electric fans, sofas, tables, chairs, cabinets, and 3 or more discarded suitcases.
- Household Appliances: Range hoods, gas cooking stoves, large water dispensers, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and floor lamps.
- Pruned tree branches and non-masonry debris from DIY home repairs; collection teams evaluate pickup feasibility based on volume, whether debris stems from commercial contractors, and booked load capacities.
Guidelines from the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department (新北市環保局) state that bulky waste encompasses discarded sofas, beds, desks, chairs, wardrobes, bicycles, and yard tree clippings. Large household appliances (such as washing machines) constitute recyclable resources and must be scheduled directly with local teams for dedicated recycling truck pickup. Address booking cancellations or unlisted items directly with district sanitation squads.
Regarding mattresses, Taipei City lists innerspring mattresses while New Taipei City designates beds. Specific rules regarding other mattress foam cores default to district announcements.
