About TossLocal & how we research

Finding out how to get rid of a TV, a mattress or a can of paint usually means digging through several city pages, a state agency site and a store's fine print. We put that into one plain-English page per city and item.

Our methodology

1. Official sources first. We use the city's solid-waste or sanitation department, the county, the state environmental agency, and retailers' own published take-back policies. News coverage is used only for context, like a schedule change, and is labeled.
2. No guessing. We never estimate fees, addresses, hours or rules. If we can't confirm something from a source, we say so and point you to the agency.
3. Every claim is linked. Each option on a guide links to the page it came from, and every guide lists all of its sources.
4. Dated verification. Every guide shows the date we last checked it against those sources. We re-check guides regularly and whenever a reader reports a change.
5. Neutral paid options. Free and public options come first. Paid haul-away services are listed separately and labeled. See our affiliate disclosure.

What we're not

We aren't a government agency or a waste hauler, and we aren't affiliated with any city. If your city's official guidance conflicts with ours, follow the city and let us know.