'Don't curb your crap': For spring cleaning, City of Bozeman offers large-item removal service

The signs of spring in Bozeman are uncanny: Sporadic weather, the mass migration of college students and seasonal workers, and the spontaneous generation of couches, hampers and other household goods on city curbsides.

In Bozeman, the act of abandoning furniture or any items to the curb is considered illegal dumping, violating the city’s municipal code and carrying a fine of up to $500.

It’s enough of an issue that the City of Bozeman has a “Don’t curb your crap” campaign. The city will pick up bulky “crap” at $20 per item. Eligible items include couches, mattresses, chairs, desks, dressers, refrigerators, and air conditioning units.

Bagged trash and hazardous waste are not eligible.

To schedule a bulky item pickup, City of Bozeman garbage customers can fill out a form on the city’s website. The service runs on Wednesdays and Fridays.

However, for some Bozeman residents, finding unwanted items on the curb can be like striking a gold mine, especially near the Montana State University campus.

Megan Gorsky, a Bozeman resident, said she got most of the furniture in her house this way. Her acquisitions include a chicken coop, a dresser, and a side table.

“It’s nice to be able to find things on the side of the road,” Gorsky said. “That being said, I also understand that if it’s out on somebody’s curb for too long and it doesn’t get picked up, it looks trashy.”

In addition to being unsightly, abandoned furniture can pose health and safety risks, city officials say.

“It can encroach onto sidewalks, gutters, and get in the way of cyclists and pedestrians,” Russ Ward, superintendent of the City of Bozeman’s Solid Waste Engineering Division, said. “It creates a home for mice and vermin just like any other trash.”

Individuals requesting this service must reside within city limits and be a City of Bozeman Solid Waste customer.

“Bozeman Solid Waste doesn’t receive any tax money, and the only money we get is from our ratepayers,” Ward said. “That’s why we can’t just go and pick up stuff people dump anywhere, because then our ratepayers would have to subsidize and pay for it.”

As far as responsibility for abandoned furniture, Ward says it falls on the homeowner.

“Unfortunately, if somebody were to put something on the curb in front of your house, you’re still responsible for it,” Ward said. “Even though you weren’t the one that put it there, it’s still considered a property crime.”

If someone has a piece of furniture they no longer want, but believes still has life in it, Ward suggests listing it for free on Facebook Marketplace or donating it to a local thrift store.