Friday, Nov. 6 is the last day of bulk pickup in the City of Watertown this year. After that, the Department of Public Works stops collecting couches, mattresses, appliances and other large items until spring 2027, when it will announce a new start date.
If you have something big sitting in the garage, this is the week to deal with it. Here's how the program works, what it costs, and what to do if you miss it.
Last updated: Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Getting on the list this week
Since March, Watertown bulk pickup has been by request only. There's no neighborhood schedule; the city comes when you ask.
- Request it online with the city's Request Bulk Pickup form. List every item, and add a photo if you can. The city emails back a price and a pickup date.
- Short on time? Call instead: DPW, (315) 785-7842, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. With only a few working days left, a phone call is the surest way to find out if you can still get a slot before Friday.
- On pickup day, have items out by 7 a.m., in the strip between the sidewalk and the curb.
The program is for city residential homes. It doesn't cover the Town of Watertown or businesses.
What it costs: the sticker list
The city prices bulk items in blue city stickers. These are the 2026 counts from the city's flyer. They're estimates; the final cost depends on size and weight, and DPW may look at an item before quoting it.
| Item | Blue stickers |
|---|---|
| Lamp; vacuum, small kitchen appliance, CD/DVD player, keyboard | 1 |
| End table, vanity or headboard; kitchen or office chair; bookcase; single kitchen cupboard | 2 |
| TV, computer monitor or tower, microwave, sewing machine | 2 |
| Toilet, sink, tub, shower stall | 2 and up |
| Dresser; kitchen table or office desk; entertainment center; stuffed fabric chair | 3 |
| Appliances and other metal ("white goods") | 3 |
| Lawn furniture, grill (no fuel tank), lawn and garden equipment (no gas engines) | 3 and up |
| Carpets and rugs (sections no wider than 4 feet); work bench; treadmill or exercise machine | 3 and up |
| Sofa or loveseat; recliner; each sectional piece; pool filter, cover or liner | 4 |
| Bed frame, box spring or mattress, any size | 5 |
| Sleeper sofa | 8 |
Appliances and metal are picked up on a different run from the furniture and junk headed to the landfill, so don't be surprised if they go on different days.
The flyer doesn't print a price per sticker. Your emailed quote from the city is the number to go by.
What the city won't take
- Tires, car batteries and other vehicle parts
- Bedding (blankets, sheets, pillows) and clothing, shoes, hats and gloves
- Paint, solvents and other household hazardous waste
- Construction and demolition debris
- Grill fuel tanks and gas-powered lawn equipment
Clothing and bedding in good shape can go to a donation bin or thrift store instead.
Missed Friday? The county transfer station
From Nov. 7 until spring, the main option is the Jefferson County Recycling Center & Transfer Station at 27138 State Route 12, about 4.5 miles north of the city.
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Closed on major holidays. |
| Furniture, mattresses, bulky trash | $148 a ton, $20 minimum |
| Appliances and scrap metal | Free |
| Electronics | $148 a ton, $20 minimum |
| Car and light-truck tires (up to 20 inches) | $6 each |
| Payment | Cash, credit, debit or check |
The $20 minimum covers about 270 pounds, which is roughly a couch and a mattress. The catch is getting it there: you need a truck or trailer, and someone to help lift. Questions go to the county at (315) 786-6900.
What this means if you rent out property
For a lot of Watertown landlords, fall is turnover season. Tenants leave behind mattresses and couches, and in a few days the city stops coming for them. From then on, every one of those items becomes a trip to Route 12 on a weekday or a Saturday morning, or a fee to a junk hauler.
If you manage rentals in the city, two things are worth doing this week:
- Walk your units and garages now. Anything you already know is going out should be on a city request by Thursday.
- Plan for the winter gap. Write the transfer station hours and the $20 minimum into your turnover checklist, or line up a hauler before you need one.
Sources
- City of Watertown Department of Public Works, Seasonal On Demand Bulk Pickup, the 2026 bulk item announcement and price list and the Request Bulk Pickup form.
- WWNY, Watertown seasonal bulk pickup to end November 6 (Oct. 31, 2026).
- Jefferson County Recycling & Waste Management, transfer station guidelines, hours and locations and fee schedule.