Old Carpet Is a Pain to Dispose Of
You ripped out the old carpet, installed beautiful new hardwood or LVP, and now there are 500+ square feet of rolled-up carpet and padding sitting in your garage. It won’t fit in the trash bin, the city won’t take it on regular pickup day, and your HOA is already eyeing it on your driveway.
Here’s how to get rid of it.
Carpet Disposal Options in Denver
1. Denver Large Item Pickup (Free — With Limits)
Denver’s free large item pickup accepts carpet IF it’s:
- Cut into rolls no longer than 4 feet
- Tied or taped securely
- Set at the curb on your scheduled pickup day
The 4-item limit applies — each tied bundle counts as one item. For a full room of carpet, you might need multiple pickup cycles.
2. Junk Removal Service ($99-$249)
The fastest option. We load rolled carpet, padding, tack strips, and associated debris in one trip.
- One room of carpet: $99-$149
- Multiple rooms: $149-$249
- Whole house carpet removal + hauling: $249-$449
We also take the old padding (which is usually crumbly and disgusting) and the tack strips. Same-day service available.
Call (303) 324-6014 or book online.
3. Transfer Station ($30-$60)
Haul it yourself to:
- Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site — 5500 Quebec St
- Tower Road Transfer Station — 9900 Tower Rd, Commerce City
Carpet is heavy and awkward — a room’s worth of carpet and padding can weigh 100-200 lbs. You’ll need a truck or trailer.
4. Dumpster Rental ($300-$500)
If you’re doing a larger renovation, a dumpster handles carpet plus all the other debris. But for carpet alone, a dumpster is overkill — junk removal is cheaper and faster. See our full comparison.
5. Carpet Recycling
Carpet is technically recyclable — nylon and PET fibers can be processed into new products. However, carpet recycling infrastructure in Denver is limited:
- Check with your flooring installer — some have relationships with recycling facilities and will take old carpet as part of the installation
- Some specialty carpet recyclers accept drop-offs but may charge a fee
When you use Junk Same Day, we separate recyclable carpet materials when possible through our GreenHaul™ program.
How to Prepare Carpet for Disposal
- Cut into manageable sections — Use a utility knife to cut carpet into strips about 3-4 feet wide. Roll each strip tightly.
- Roll and tie — Duct tape or rope keeps rolls from unraveling during transport.
- Separate the padding — Carpet padding (the foam or rubber underlayer) is usually separate from the carpet itself. Roll it the same way.
- Pull tack strips carefully — These wood strips with nails are along every wall edge. Use a pry bar and work gloves. They’re sharp.
- Bag the staples — If the padding was stapled down, you’ll have hundreds of staples in the subfloor. Use pliers to pull them or a flat scraper to pop them out.
If you don’t want to deal with any of this: We can handle the entire carpet removal process — ripping it up, rolling it, pulling tack strips, and hauling everything away. Ask about our full-service carpet removal when you call.
What About Carpet With Mold or Water Damage?
Carpet that’s been wet for more than 48 hours almost certainly has mold underneath. This carpet must be removed — it’s a health hazard. Denver’s semi-arid climate doesn’t prevent mold when moisture gets trapped under carpet.
Moldy carpet disposal is the same as regular carpet, but:
- Wear an N95 mask and gloves during removal
- Bag it in plastic if possible to contain spores
- It cannot be donated or recycled
- If mold has reached the subfloor, you may need mold remediation before installing new flooring
Renovation Season Is Here
Spring is Denver’s busiest renovation season. If you’re replacing carpet with hardwood, LVP, or tile, schedule your carpet removal the same day you start the install — or the day before. That way your floor installer shows up to a clean subfloor.
Call (303) 324-6014 or book online for same-day carpet removal across the Denver metro.
