Bulky Waste and WEEE Disposal in Rome: Free Pick-Up and AMA Drop-Off Points

In a nutshell

When you have furniture, a household appliance, or a mattress to dispose of, you cannot leave it next to the bins — that counts as illegal dumping and carries heavy fines. In Rome you have two free options managed by AMA (Rome's waste-management company): home collection by appointment and direct drop-off at a recycling centre. Both are included in the TARI (waste-collection tax) you pay every year.

At a glance

Cost	Free for residential TARI payers in the municipality of Rome
Timeline	Home pick-up: appointment within 5–15 working days. Recycling centre: immediate during opening hours
Locations in Rome	Around 14 recycling centres across the city. Map at amaroma.it/centri-di-raccolta
Documents	For the centre: ID document + Codice Fiscale (Italian tax ID). For home pick-up: full address and mobile number

What you can dispose of

Bulky items are large objects that don't fit in standard bins: wardrobes, bed frames, sofas, armchairs, mattresses, box springs, tables, chairs, rugs, removed bathroom fixtures (toilets, sinks, bidets), whole bicycles, large suitcases.

WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) is divided into five categories: cooling and climate (fridges, air conditioners), large white goods (washing machines, dishwashers, ovens), screens (TVs, monitors), small appliances (blenders, irons, vacuum cleaners, mobile phones, computers, printers), and light sources (LED bulbs, fluorescent tubes).

AMA recycling centres also accept batteries, used cooking oil, toner cartridges and ink cartridges, paints, garden waste and prunings, wood, metals, and surplus paper.

Important: rubble and construction debris are not handled as standard bulky waste. For renovation projects you need a licensed private waste contractor. Asbestos cannot be taken to standard recycling centres either — you need a specialist firm.

How to book a home collection

Home pick-up is free for residential TARI payers, subject to the quantity limits in AMA's regulations (typically a few items per booking, with the option to book multiple times during the year).

1. Book through the AMA Roma app (iOS/Android), the website amaroma.it, or the freephone number 800.867.035 (free from landlines and mobiles).
2. Provide the type and number of items, your full address (street, number, staircase, floor), and your preferred time window.
3. You receive a confirmation with the appointment date.
4. The evening before or early on the morning of the agreed day, place the items near your building entrance at the spot indicated by AMA.
5. The AMA vehicle comes and collects them.

Do not put items out before the indicated time — you risk a fine for illegal dumping even if you have a booking.

For house moves or large quantities of furniture, dropping off directly at a recycling centre is more practical: you can make multiple trips in the same day.

How to use a recycling centre

There are around 14 centres spread across Rome. The up-to-date list with addresses, opening hours, and an interactive map is at amaroma.it/centri-di-raccolta.

Hours vary by centre: generally open Monday to Saturday with morning and afternoon slots; some also open on Sundays with reduced hours. Always check before you go.

The process is straightforward:

1. Arrive at the centre with your vehicle (car or van) and bring your ID document and Codice Fiscale.
2. Staff register your drop-off at the entrance.
3. Place your materials in the designated containers following staff instructions.
4. Keep the drop-off receipt.

WEEE: special rules for electrical appliances

When you buy a new appliance, the retailer is legally required to take back your old equivalent appliance for free at the moment of delivery ("one-for-one" rule, DM 65/2010). Keep the WEEE delivery note the retailer must issue you.

For small WEEE items with a maximum dimension of 25 cm (mobile phones, chargers, hair dryers, light bulbs): you can take them to any electronics shop with a sales floor of at least 400 m², which must accept them for free even without a purchase ("one-for-zero" rule, DM 121/2016). Alternatively, drop them off at an AMA recycling centre.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Leaving bulky items next to the bins. This is illegal dumping, punishable with fines of up to €619 or more. The local police (Polizia Locale) can identify you through CCTV cameras or witnesses.
2. Paying for a collection. The service is included in your TARI. Be wary of companies that knock on your door offering paid collections without authorisation — the free service already exists.
3. Putting items out before the agreed time. Even with a confirmed booking, leaving waste out outside the agreed window counts as illegal dumping.

Special cases

Elderly residents or people with disabilities without a vehicle can request home collection. For assistance carrying items from inside the building to the AMA vehicle when there is documented inability to do so, call the freephone number 800.867.035.

Blocks of flats with large quantities (for example after renovation of common areas): the building manager (amministratore) can arrange a collective drop-off by contacting AMA for dedicated arrangements.

Scrapped cars and motorbikes are not handled by AMA: contact licensed vehicle dismantlers, which you can find through ACI (Italy's automobile club) or the Albo Gestori Ambientali (register of authorised environmental managers).

Expired medicines do not go in the bins or at AMA centres. Take them to the dedicated containers at a pharmacy. Used cooking oil must not go down the drain: use the dedicated AMA containers or take it to a recycling centre.

Official sources

• AMA Rome — official website
• AMA — Recycling centres (map and hours)
• AMA — Bulky waste collection

Legal references: D.Lgs. 152/2006 (Environmental Code), D.Lgs. 49/2014 (WEEE management), DM 08/03/2010 n. 65 (one-for-one), DM 31/05/2016 n. 121 (one-for-zero small WEEE), Regolamento Gestione Rifiuti Urbani Roma Capitale.