Moving is the moment every closet, garage shelf and cabinet gets emptied at once. Here’s a practical, local checklist to get the house empty and the keys handed over on time. Official contacts are linked at the bottom.
3–4 weeks before moving day
Sort into four piles: keep, sell or donate, recycle or special disposal, and haul away. Do the garage first. It’s always the biggest job.
Decide how the “haul away” pile leaves: – Junk removal if you want it gone in one visit and someone else to lift it. Ours is priced by volume with a $150 minimum, labor included. See junk removal. – A dumpster if you’re clearing out over several days. A 10 yard ($399) handles a room or a garage, a 12 yard ($449) a multi-room cleanout, and a 15 yard ($499) a whole home, all with delivery, pick-up and 1 ton included. The price stops increasing after day 5.
Book early. End-of-month weekends fill up first. Online booking is for next day or later, and same-day depends on availability.
2 weeks before: the special-disposal pile
These can’t go in the dumpster or a junk removal load: – Paint, chemicals, batteries, motor oil: free drop-off at the WPWMA, 3195 Athens Ave, Lincoln (daily 8am–5pm, up to 15 gallons or 125 lbs). Roseville residents can also book a free doorstep pickup. Lincoln offers free Wednesday universal-waste pickup at (916) 434-2450. In Rocklin, call Recology at (530) 885-3735. See our hazardous waste and e-waste guide. – Old mattresses: free WPWMA drop-off, up to 4 per day. See our mattress disposal guide.
1 week before: trash service and cardboard
Stop or transfer trash service: – Roseville: the City runs trash service. New service goes through Utility Billing, (916) 774-5300. Changes in service go to (916) 774-5780. – Rocklin: Recology Auburn Placer, (530) 885-3735. – Lincoln: the City runs trash service. Call Utility Billing, (916) 434-2430, or Public Works, (916) 434-2450.
Cardboard: – Rocklin: Recology picks up flattened cardboard free in a 3×3 ft or smaller pile next to your cart on collection day. – Lincoln: cardboard recycling bins at Joiner Park and behind the Twelve Bridges Library. – Everywhere: WPWMA accepts clean, sorted cardboard for free.
Moving week
- Schedule the dumpster pickup or junk removal for after the movers leave and before the final walkthrough.
- Put the dumpster on the driveway. In all three cities, a dumpster on private property doesn’t need a city permit. Check HOA rules in planned communities. See our permit and HOA guide.
- Walk every room, closet, attic and side yard one last time.
Landlords and agents: tenant turnover
Clearing a rental between tenants or prepping a listing? We handle full-house cleanouts room by room. Text photos to (916) 878-0304 for a price before we arrive.
Dumpster rental in Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I rent a dumpster or hire junk removal for a move?
Junk removal if you want everything gone in one visit without lifting. A dumpster if you’re clearing out over several days.
Who do I call to stop trash service in Rocklin?
Recology Auburn Placer, (530) 885-3735.
Where can I recycle moving boxes in Lincoln?
At the cardboard bins at Joiner Park and behind the Twelve Bridges Library, or at the WPWMA.
Sources
- City of Roseville, Trash & Recycling (checked Oct 12, 2026)
- WPWMA / Placer Recycles, They Collect (checked Oct 12, 2026)
- City of Rocklin, Recycling (checked Oct 12, 2026)
- City of Lincoln, Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste (checked Oct 12, 2026)
- City of Lincoln, 2026 Guide to Solid Waste Services (PDF) (checked Oct 12, 2026)
- WPWMA, Materials Recovery Facility (checked Oct 12, 2026)
- WPWMA, Free mattress and box spring drop-off (checked Oct 12, 2026)
Call or text (916) 878-0304 · info@placerdumpster.com · Open 7:00am–9:00pm, 7 days a week
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