By Just a Guy and His Truck
Looking to get rid of an old mattress, busted couch, or broken fridge in Orange County without spending a fortune—or anything at all? You’re not alone. Most people don’t realize that Orange County offers tons of free resources for responsible recycling and disposal—if you just know where to look.
As someone who hauls a lot of this stuff for a living, I’ve put together the definitive guide to help you (and your neighbors) know where to take common household items—for free.
✅ Why This Guide Matters
Whether you’re decluttering the garage, handling an estate cleanout, or just trying to stay out of trouble with the HOA, getting rid of large items like mattresses, furniture, yard waste, and appliances can be a serious pain. Dumping fees add up fast. And not everything belongs in the landfill.
That’s where this guide comes in. It’s straight from the field, based on years of experience running my small moving and hauling business, Just a Guy and His Truck.
📍 Where to Take Your Stuff — Free Recycling in Orange County
Here’s a simple, no-nonsense chart showing where you can take common items for free depending on what city you live in. (Always call ahead or check the city website—drop-off locations and rules can change.)
| Item | Free Disposal Options |
|---|---|
| Mattresses | Bye Bye Mattress Program (check byebyemattress.com for locations like Goodwill, landfills, or events by your city) |
| Metal Appliances | CR&R facilities, OC landfills (often accepted at transfer stations—ask about scrap metal drop-off) |
| Furniture | Bulky Item Pickup (schedule with your city’s waste hauler), donation centers (if reusable), Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore |
| Yard Waste | Green waste bins (weekly curbside), or landfill green waste area (bring proof of residency) |
| Hazardous Waste | OC Household Hazardous Waste Centers – locations in Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, and San Juan Capistrano |
| E-Waste | Goodwill, Staples, Best Buy (some cities host e-waste drop-off events—check your local recycling calendar) |
| Cardboard/Boxes | Curbside blue bin (flattened), or bring to your city’s public recycling drop-off center |
🛻 Want It Gone But Don’t Want to Haul It?
I get it. Not everyone has a truck—or the time to load it all up.
That’s where I come in.
I’m Taylor, the guy behind Just a Guy and His Truck. If you need help with:
- Small moves
- Furniture pickup from Marketplace
- Dump runs
- Garage cleanouts
- Curbside donation drops
… I’ll take care of it. No fuss, no drama, no giant companies sending five emails before doing anything. Just text me and I’ll make it disappear.
🧠 Pro Tip: Some Cities Offer Free Pickups
Before you throw something out, call your city’s waste services. Most of them offer one or more free bulky item pickups per year. That includes big stuff like couches, water heaters, or bed frames. But you usually have to schedule it—and fast—because those pickups fill up quick.
♻️ Keep It Local, Keep It Clean
Recycling and responsible disposal help keep our streets and neighborhoods cleaner. Plus, it helps small businesses like mine work better with our cities to keep the cycle going. If you’re in Orange County and don’t want to deal with any of this yourself, I’ll haul it for you affordably.
📥 Download the Free PDF
Want to keep this guide on hand or share it with your neighbors?
👉 Click here to download the Free Recycling & Disposal Guide (PDF)
🔗 Stay Connected
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for real-time job stories, moving tips, and local haul-away hacks. Got a weird item you’re trying to get rid of? Shoot me a message—chances are, I’ve seen worse.
🧰 Final Word From the Truck
If this guide saved you a trip (or five), let me know. Share it. Post it. Heck, print it and slap it on your fridge. The more people know about this stuff, the less ends up dumped on sidewalks.
And when you’re ready to clear out the rest?
You know who to call.
– Taylor | Just a Guy and His Truck