How to Recycle Refrigerators
Full-size refrigerators and freezers: steel cabinets plus regulated refrigerant and compressor oil that the final disposer must recover under Clean Air Act Section 608.
Quick answer
A whole refrigerator scraps for under $15: about $8 for the 120+ lb of steel in an older unit at the $0.07/lb light iron rate (as of August 2026), plus $4 to $5 if the yard buys the 15+ lb sealed unit separately. The refrigerant must be recovered before the fridge is scrapped, so a utility fridge recycling program ($50 from Consumers Energy in Michigan, $150 from NH Saves in New Hampshire) beats the scrap check. Never leave a fridge at the curb for scrappers. Use a utility pickup, retailer haul-away, or a yard that recovers refrigerant. 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: about $8 for the steel at the $0.07/lb light iron rate, plus $4 to $5 for a 15+ lb sealed unit at $0.28 to $0.30/lb when the yard buys it separately. Some yards pay a flat $3.00 to $3.45 per whole unit (iScrap yard reports, 2025). Utility incentives pay more: $50 from Consumers Energy (Michigan) and $150 from NH Saves (New Hampshire, April to December 2026), both with free pickup. Retailer haul-away is a flat fee with replacement delivery (often around $50; confirm at checkout).
- Donate / take-back
- Available
How to Prepare
- 1Check your electric utility for a fridge or freezer recycling rebate and pickup first (many require the unit to still work)
- 2Unplug the unit and empty all food
- 3Defrost if iced over; wipe out spills so the interior is dry (retailers often require this)
- 4Disconnect and cap the water line if the unit has an ice maker or dispenser
- 5Remove loose shelves and drawers if they will fall during transport
- 6Tape doors shut for transport unless your program asks you to remove them
- 7Do not cut lines, puncture the compressor, or vent refrigerant yourself
Where to Recycle
- Utility fridge/freezer recycling programs (often with rebate; usually require a working unit)
- Retailer haul-away with new appliance delivery (Best Buy, Lowe's, Home Depot, and similar)
- Municipal bulky-item pickup (confirm refrigerated appliances are allowed)
- Appliance recyclers and scrap yards that recover refrigerant
Special Instructions
Under Clean Air Act Section 608 safe-disposal rules, the final disposer must recover refrigerant before a fridge or freezer is shredded or landfilled. You do not need an EPA 608 sticker yourself; verification is a signed recovery statement or qualifying contract, not a consumer sticker. Schedule collection through a utility program, retailer haul-away, municipal appliance service, or recycler that handles recovery. Prefer scheduled pickup over indefinite curb leave; EPA warns peddlers may vent refrigerant or dump unsafely.
Environmental Impact
ENERGY STAR notes that an average refrigerator 10+ years old contains more than 120 lb of recyclable steel; industry guides often cite roughly 100-150 lb recovered from a full-size unit, plus copper tubing and aluminum parts. Older units may still hold ozone-depleting refrigerants or foam blowing agents; venting them is illegal and releases those gases to the air. EPA estimates about 11-13 million refrigerated household appliances reach end-of-life each year in the U.S.
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 (September 29, 2026)
- iScrap App: sealed unit prices
- iScrap App: refrigerator scrap prices
- RecycleFind: Scrap metal prices
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Residential refrigerators and freezers
- Working or non-working units (utility rebates often require working condition)
- Units with doors on or removed, per program rules
Not Accepted
- Units with refrigerant deliberately vented or cut lines
- Units without a signed refrigerant recovery statement at yards that follow EPA's final-disposer rule
- Commercial walk-ins without prior approval
- Units full of spoiled food or standing liquid
Donation & Take‑Back Options
Estimated value: As of August to September 2026: about $8 for the steel at the $0.07/lb light iron rate, plus $4 to $5 for a 15+ lb sealed unit at $0.28 to $0.30/lb when the yard buys it separately. Some yards pay a flat $3.00 to $3.45 per whole unit (iScrap yard reports, 2025). Utility incentives pay more: $50 from Consumers Energy (Michigan) and $150 from NH Saves (New Hampshire, April to December 2026), both with free pickup. Retailer haul-away is a flat fee with replacement delivery (often around $50; confirm at checkout).
Donation
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore (working units)
- Local nonprofits (working, clean units)
Manufacturer/Retail Take‑Back
Hazardous Components
- Refrigerants (CFC/HCFC/HFC; some newer units use hydrocarbons such as R-290)
- Compressor oil
- Foam blowing agents in insulation (foam recovery is a best practice, not always required)
- Mercury switches in some very old units
- PCBs in rare older capacitors or components
FAQs
Is it worth scrapping a refrigerator?
No. A whole fridge brings under $15 in scrap (about $8 of steel plus $4 to $5 for the sealed unit, as of August 2026), and the refrigerant has to be recovered first. A utility pickup pays $50 to $150 for a working unit, so use that before you call a yard.
How much is a scrap refrigerator worth?
About $8 for the steel at the $0.07/lb light iron rate and $4 to $5 more for the 15+ lb sealed unit at $0.28 to $0.30/lb (yard quotes from September 2026). Some yards pay a flat $3.00 to $3.45 per whole unit.
Do scrap yards take refrigerators?
Yes, if the refrigerant has been recovered. 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, so expect a yard to ask for proof. Call first and ask what they need.
Is a refrigerator compressor worth scrapping for copper?
No. The sealed unit sells whole for about $4 to $5 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 also risks venting refrigerant, which is illegal.
Do I need an EPA 608 sticker before disposal?
No. EPA says no sticker is required for consumers. The final disposer needs a signed statement (who recovered the refrigerant and when) or a qualifying contract. Use a utility, retailer, city, or recycler that handles recovery.
Do I need a certified technician to remove the refrigerant myself?
No. Do not DIY. Schedule pickup with a utility program, retailer, city bulky service, or recycler that recovers refrigerant. Cutting or venting the lines yourself is illegal and dangerous.
Will someone pick up my fridge and pay me?
Yes. Consumers Energy (Michigan) pays $50 and NH Saves (New Hampshire) pays $150 for a working fridge or freezer, both with free pickup and a 10 to 30 cubic foot size limit. Other utilities run similar programs (find yours through ENERGY STAR). Retailers haul away the old fridge when they deliver a new one, usually for a fee.
Should I remove the doors?
Follow the program that is taking the fridge. Some want doors taped shut for transport; others want them off so kids cannot get trapped if the unit sits outside briefly.
Can I sell or give away an old second fridge?
You can, but EPA notes inefficient end-of-life units should often be recycled rather than resold so they stop using electricity. If it still runs, a utility turn-in rebate is often the better option.
What about the foam insulation?
Foam can hold blowing agents. Ordinary scrap shredding often releases them. Utility turn-in programs and appliance recyclers that recover foam or the blowing agent handle that step; prefer those when you have a choice.
Related recycling guides
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