Frankfurt's Free Bulky Waste Pickup (Sperrmüll): Up to 10 Cubic Meters, No Charge
FES Frankfurt, the city's waste management company, picks up bulky waste (Sperrmüll) for free up to 10 cubic meters for any household connected to the city's fee-based waste collection system, larger amounts cost extra. Book by calling 0800 2008007-10 or through the free FrankfurtPlus app, which also handles the appointment end to end. Sperrmüll covers movable furniture, large appliances, and household textiles like mattresses and carpets, but it explicitly excludes construction materials, hazardous substances, tires, used clothing, and small electronics. Timing matters: put items out no earlier than 3:30pm the day before your pickup and no later than 6am on the day itself, placed at ground level within 5 meters of where a truck can reach, with at least 1.5 meters of clear passage for the crew. Sperrmüll has to stand separately from other items so it isn't confused with something else being disposed of. If you need to get rid of waste faster than a scheduled pickup allows, GWR GmbH offers a paid express alternative, and FES recycling centers accept up to 1 cubic meter as a drop-off with no appointment.
The Official Rule
Frankfurt’s waste management company, FES Frankfurt (Frankfurter Entsorgungs- und Service GmbH), picks up bulky waste, Sperrmüll, for free, up to 10 cubic meters, for any household already connected to the city’s fee-based waste collection system. Larger quantities are still collected, just at an additional charge beyond that threshold.
Sperrmüll covers movable items too large for a standard household bin: furniture like tables, chairs, and shelving, large appliances including refrigerators and TVs, and household textiles such as carpets and mattresses. What it explicitly does not cover matters just as much:
| Included (free up to 10m³) | Excluded (needs a different disposal route) |
|---|---|
| Furniture: tables, chairs, shelving, cabinets | Construction materials: windows, doors, wallpaper |
| Large appliances: refrigerators, TVs | Hazardous substances: paint, wood preservatives, fluorescent tubes |
| Household textiles: carpets, mattresses | Vehicle tires, used clothing, small electronics |
Booking runs through two channels: calling 0800 2008007-10, or using the free FrankfurtPlus app, which handles scheduling digitally alongside other city waste services, locations, and disposal information in one place. Neither is a walk-up service, you register or provide your details as part of the booking itself.
Placement Rules That Actually Get Enforced
FES’s own placement guidance is specific, and getting it wrong is the most common reason a pickup doesn’t happen as expected. Items go out no earlier than 3:30pm the day before your scheduled pickup and no later than 6am on the day itself, at ground level, in an easily accessible spot like a front yard, entrance, or driveway. The collection point needs to sit within 5 meters of where the truck can reach, with at least 1.5 meters of clear passage width for the crew, and if cars are parked in the way, it’s worth reserving space in advance. Critically, Sperrmüll has to stand separately from anything else, mixed piles risk confusion with regular trash or another disposal category entirely, and can mean your items simply don’t get collected.
- Book your pickup via the hotline (0800 2008007-10) or the FrankfurtPlus app.
- Sort your items, confirming everything is genuinely Sperrmüll, not construction debris, hazardous material, or small electronics.
- Place items out starting 3:30pm the day before, standing separately from other waste, at ground level.
- Make sure the spot is accessible: within 5 meters of truck access, at least 1.5 meters of clear passage.
- Confirm everything is out by 6am on the collection day at the latest.
If You Need It Gone Faster
Two alternatives exist if a scheduled pickup doesn’t fit your timeline. GWR GmbH runs a paid express bulky waste service with a concrete pickup date, useful when speed matters more than cost. If your amount is modest, up to 1 cubic meter, you can also drop it off yourself at an FES recycling center (Wertstoffhof), no appointment required at all, often the fastest route if you’re able to transport it yourself.
What You’ll Need
- Confirmation your address is connected to Frankfurt’s fee-based waste collection system, if unsure, check with FES directly.
- A rough estimate of your item volume, to confirm you’re within the free 10 cubic meter limit.
- Either the FES hotline number (0800 2008007-10) or the FrankfurtPlus app for booking.
- A ground-level, accessible spot for placement, within 5 meters of truck access with 1.5 meters of clear passage.
Compliance Note
This page explains the general framework for bulky waste pickup in Frankfurt. It is not legal advice. Rules, limits, and contact details can change; confirm your specific situation directly with FES Frankfurt via fes-frankfurt.de, its hotline, or services@fes-frankfurt.de before relying on any detail here.
FAQ & Common Pitfalls
Is the 10 cubic meter Sperrmüll pickup really free, or is there a hidden fee?
FES Frankfurt's own guidance states it plainly: bulky waste up to 10 cubic meters is disposed of free, for any household already connected to the city's fee-based waste collection system, meaning you're already paying for waste services generally through that connection, this pickup itself doesn't add a separate line item. Only quantities above that 10 cubic meter threshold incur an additional charge.
What exactly counts as Sperrmüll, and what doesn't?
Sperrmüll covers movable items too large for a standard bin, furniture like tables, chairs, and shelves, large appliances including refrigerators and TVs, and household textiles such as carpets and mattresses. It explicitly does not cover construction materials like removed windows, doors, or wallpaper, hazardous substances like paint or wood preservatives, vehicle tires, used clothing, or small electronics like hairdryers or phones, those need separate disposal routes.
How do I actually book a pickup?
Call the FES hotline at 0800 2008007-10, or use the free FrankfurtPlus app, which handles scheduling digitally alongside other waste services, locations, and general disposal information. Both channels require you to register or provide your details as part of booking, it isn't a walk-up or unscheduled service.
When exactly should I put my items outside?
Not before 3:30pm the day before your scheduled pickup, and no later than 6am on the pickup day itself. Items need to sit at ground level, in an easily accessible spot like a front yard, entrance, or driveway, within 5 meters of where the collection truck can reach, and with at least 1.5 meters of clear passage width for the crew. Sperrmüll also needs to stand separately from other items so it isn't confused with regular trash or something else being disposed of.
I need to get rid of something faster than a scheduled pickup allows. What are my options?
GWR GmbH offers a paid express bulky waste service with a concrete pickup date if timing is the priority over cost. If the amount is modest, up to 1 cubic meter, you can also simply drop it off yourself at an FES recycling center (Wertstoffhof) with no appointment needed at all, which is often the fastest option if you're able to transport it yourself.
Does the free pickup apply to everyone in Frankfurt, or only certain households?
It applies to households connected to Frankfurt's fee-based waste collection system, which covers the great majority of residential addresses in the city. If you're unsure whether your specific address qualifies, FES's contact channels, the hotline or services@fes-frankfurt.de, can confirm your status before you plan around a free pickup.