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How to Recycle Freezers
Check local acceptanceAs of August to September 2026: cabinet steel at the $0.07/lb light iron rate, plus about $4 to $5 for a 15+ lb sealed unit at $0.28 to $0.30/lb when the yard buys it separately. Utility incentives pay more: $50 from Consumers Energy (Michigan) and $150 from NH Saves (New Hampshire, April to December 2026), both with free pickup.Last reviewed September 29, 2026
Quick answer
A freezer's scrap value is its cabinet weight at the $0.07/lb light iron rate (as of August 2026) plus about $4 to $5 for a 15+ lb sealed unit at $0.28 to $0.30/lb, and the refrigerant must be recovered before it is scrapped. A working freezer earns more through a utility program: $50 from Consumers Energy in Michigan, $150 from NH Saves in New Hampshire, both with free pickup. Empty and defrost it, and never vent or cut the lines yourself. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Typical value
- As of August to September 2026: cabinet steel at the $0.07/lb light iron rate, plus about $4 to $5 for a 15+ lb sealed unit at $0.28 to $0.30/lb when the yard buys it separately. Utility incentives pay more: $50 from Consumers Energy (Michigan) and $150 from NH Saves (New Hampshire, April to December 2026), both with free pickup.
- Donate / take-back
- Available
Chest and upright freezers containing refrigerant, compressor oil, insulated foam, metals, plastics, and electronic controls.
Where to Recycle
- Retailer haul-away
- Utility appliance-recycling programs
- Municipal appliance collection
- Refrigerant-certified appliance recyclers
- Scrap yards that hold a recovery statement or contract
How to Prepare
- 1Remove all food and unplug the freezer
- 2Defrost it and drain all water
- 3Clean and dry the interior
- 4Secure the door for transport and follow local door-removal rules
- 5Tell the collector if the cooling system is damaged
- 6Check your electric utility for a freezer recycling incentive and free pickup first (working units qualify)
- 7Weigh the cabinet if you plan to sell it as scrap; the yard pays by the pound
Special Instructions
Federal refrigerant rules apply. EPA makes the final disposer, such as a scrap recycler, obtain a signed statement naming who recovered the refrigerant and when, or a contract that guarantees recovery; no consumer sticker is required. Do not puncture tubing, remove the compressor, or leave the unit where a child could become trapped. Yards that buy sealed units require the oil drained.
Environmental Impact
Proper processing recovers refrigerant and compressor oil before metal recycling and prevents avoidable emissions. Appliance recyclers also recover foam insulation, plastics, and glass (ENERGY STAR).
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
- EPA: Appliance disposal
- EPA: Stationary refrigeration safe disposal requirements
- ENERGY STAR: Find a fridge recycling program
- Consumers Energy: Appliance recycling rebates
- NH Saves: Refrigerator and freezer recycling
- Rockaway Recycling: current scrap metal prices (October 19, 2026)
- Rockaway Recycling: sealed units and compressors
- iScrap App: sealed unit prices
- RecycleFind: Scrap metal prices
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Chest freezers
- Upright freezers
- Working or dead units (utility programs require a working, plugged-in unit)
Not Accepted
- Units with refrigerant vented or lines cut
- Units without a signed refrigerant recovery statement at yards that follow EPA's final-disposer rule
- Freezers still full of food or standing water
Donation & Take‑Back Options
Estimated value: As of August to September 2026: cabinet steel at the $0.07/lb light iron rate, plus about $4 to $5 for a 15+ lb sealed unit at $0.28 to $0.30/lb when the yard buys it separately. Utility incentives pay more: $50 from Consumers Energy (Michigan) and $150 from NH Saves (New Hampshire, April to December 2026), both with free pickup.
FAQs
How much is a scrap freezer worth?
Weigh the cabinet and multiply by the $0.07/lb light iron rate (as of August 2026), then add about $4 to $5 if the yard buys the 15+ lb sealed unit at $0.28 to $0.30/lb. Some yards pay a flat few dollars per whole unit instead.
Is it worth scrapping a freezer?
No. A working freezer earns $50 from Consumers Energy or $150 from NH Saves with free pickup, which beats what its steel and sealed unit pay at a yard. Scrap only a dead unit that no program will take.
Do scrap yards take freezers?
Yes, if the refrigerant has been recovered. EPA requires the final disposer to hold a signed statement naming who recovered it and when, or a contract that guarantees recovery, so call the yard and ask what proof it needs.
Is the copper in a freezer compressor worth pulling?
No. The sealed unit sells whole at $0.28 to $0.30/lb with the oil drained, and Rockaway Recycling says cutting one open for its copper is not worth the labor. Cutting the lines can also vent refrigerant, which is illegal.
Do utilities pay to pick up old freezers?
Yes, some do. Consumers Energy (Michigan) pays $50 for an empty, working 10 to 30 cubic foot freezer, and NH Saves (New Hampshire) pays $150 from April to December 2026, limited to two per household per year. Find other programs through ENERGY STAR.
Should I remove the freezer door?
Follow the collector's rule. Some programs want the door secured for transport, and others want it removed so a child cannot get trapped if the unit sits outside.
Related recycling guides
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