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How to Recycle Microwaves
Countertop and over-the-range microwaves best handled as electronics/e-waste; steel casing is scrap metal only when capacitor rules are met.
Check local acceptanceAbout $2 for a 30 lb microwave sold whole as light iron at $0.07/lb (as of August 2026). Fan and turntable motors pull $0.28 to $0.40/lb, but a single unit holds too little metal to pay for the disassembly. Donate a working microwave or use e-waste recycling instead.Last reviewed September 29, 2026
Quick answer
A microwave is not worth scrapping: sold whole it pays the $0.07/lb light iron rate (as of August 2026), about $2 for a 30 lb unit, and the transformer copper sits beside a high-voltage capacitor. Take it whole to an electronics recycler or a retailer electronics drop-off (many Best Buy stores accept microwaves). Never open the case: the capacitor holds a shock hazard after you unplug it. A yard that takes a microwave as scrap can require the capacitor removed by someone trained. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Typical value
- About $2 for a 30 lb microwave sold whole as light iron at $0.07/lb (as of August 2026). Fan and turntable motors pull $0.28 to $0.40/lb, but a single unit holds too little metal to pay for the disassembly. Donate a working microwave or use e-waste recycling instead.
- Donate / take-back
- Available
How to Prepare
- 1Unplug and let the unit cool
- 2Wipe out food residue
- 3Remove the glass turntable, racks, and personal items
- 4Keep the cabinet closed; do not remove the magnetron or capacitor yourself
- 5For over-the-range units, have them uninstalled from the cabinet before drop-off or haul-away
- 6Prefer intact drop-off to e-waste or retailer electronics recycling over DIY scrap prep
Where to Recycle
- Electronics / e-waste recyclers (preferred default)
- Best Buy in-store electronics recycling (microwaves commonly accepted; confirm locally)
- Municipal e-waste events / HHW days
- Retailer haul-away when replacing an OTR or countertop unit with delivery
- Scrap yards that accept intact microwaves or remove capacitors on site
Special Instructions
Default to an electronics/e-waste recycler or retailer take-back so the unit stays intact. Capacitors can hold a dangerous charge after unplug; some scrap streams require trained capacitor removal and marked disposal (never put removed capacitors in scrap metal). Call2Recycle is not a microwave program. Landfill rules for e-waste are state-dependent; check local rules rather than assuming a blanket federal ban.
Environmental Impact
Recyclers pull steel, copper, circuit boards, and transformers out of microwaves. Keep the cabinet sealed so the charged capacitor stays isolated until a shop handles it. Smashing a unit open for copper risks shock and toxic dust from magnetron ceramics.
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
- EPA: Appliance disposal and refrigerant recovery
- Best Buy recycling
- EPA electronics recycling
- NH Recycles: Microwave recycling
- Hackaday: Harvesting copper from microwave ovens
- Paz Metals: scrap prices (August 14, 2026)
- Rockaway Recycling: current scrap metal prices (September 29, 2026)
- RecycleFind: Scrap metal prices
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Countertop microwaves
- Over-the-range microwaves (uninstalled)
- Units with or without the turntable
Not Accepted
- Units still hard-wired into a kitchen cabinet
- Microwaves packed with rotting food
- Home-disassembled chassis with exposed capacitors
- Microwaves with the capacitor still inside at yards that require it removed before scrap
Donation & Take‑Back Options
Estimated value: About $2 for a 30 lb microwave sold whole as light iron at $0.07/lb (as of August 2026). Fan and turntable motors pull $0.28 to $0.40/lb, but a single unit holds too little metal to pay for the disassembly. Donate a working microwave or use e-waste recycling instead.
Donation
- Thrift stores (working units; call first)
- Local community reuse groups
Hazardous Components
- High-voltage capacitor (can hold a charge after unplugging)
- Magnetron (possible beryllium oxide ceramics if crushed)
- PCB-containing capacitors on some older units
- Circuit boards and transformers
FAQs
Is it worth scrapping a microwave?
No. A whole microwave pays the light iron rate of $0.07/lb (as of August 2026), about $2 for a 30 lb unit, and opening one means handling a high-voltage capacitor (Hackaday puts it near 2,000 volts). Take it to an electronics recycler or Best Buy instead.
How much is a scrap microwave worth?
About $2 for a 30 lb unit sold whole at $0.07/lb. Fan and turntable motors sell as small electric motors at $0.28 to $0.40/lb, and the transformer is the main copper source, but Hackaday's copper-harvest write-up calls the economics marginal.
Do scrap yards take microwaves?
Some do, at the light iron rate, and some require the capacitor removed and the unit marked before it goes in the scrap bin (NH Recycles). Charged capacitors are a fire hazard in scrap piles and dumpsters. Call your yard first, and leave capacitor removal to trained staff.
Is a microwave e-waste or scrap metal?
Both paths exist, but e-waste or retailer electronics drop-off is the safer default because you leave capacitors sealed inside. Scrap is fine only if the facility accepts microwaves and handles capacitor rules.
Is it safe to take apart a microwave?
No. Capacitors can hold a dangerous charge even when unplugged, and crushing magnetron ceramics can create toxic dust. Recycle the unit whole.
Can I put a microwave in curbside recycling?
No. Use e-waste drop-off, retailer take-back, municipal e-waste events, or a scrap program that accepts appliances with proper capacitor handling.
Will Best Buy take my microwave?
Many Best Buy stores accept microwaves through in-store electronics recycling within item limits. Confirm on Best Buy's recycling page for your store. Large appliances are haul-away only; microwaves can appear on both electronics and haul-away lists depending on size and whether you are replacing one.
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