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
Never put a fridge in curbside recycling or leave it for random curb pickup. Refrigerant and compressor oil must be recovered before the steel can be recycled. Start with your electric utility's fridge recycling rebate (many include free pickup and require a working unit), then retailer haul-away with a new delivery, municipal bulky pickup that accepts refrigerated appliances, or a scrap yard that recovers refrigerant.
- Recyclable
- Yes
- Typical value
- Scrap payout is often low or $0 once recovery costs are deducted; utility rebates commonly beat scrap. Retailer haul-away is usually a flat fee with replacement delivery (often around $50; confirm at checkout).
- Donate / take-back
- Available
- 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
- 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
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.
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.
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
- Commercial walk-ins without prior approval
- Units full of spoiled food or standing liquid
Estimated value: Scrap payout is often low or $0 once recovery costs are deducted; utility rebates commonly beat scrap. Retailer haul-away is usually a flat fee with replacement delivery (often around $50; confirm at checkout).
Donation
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore (working units)
- Local nonprofits (working, clean units)
- 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
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?
Often yes. Many utilities offer free pickup with a rebate for qualifying working units. Retailers haul away the old fridge when they deliver a new one (usually for a fee). Scrap yards and junk removers may pick up too. Prefer scheduled pickup over leaving the unit on the curb.
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.
Recycling centers that accept Refrigerators
RecycleFind lists recycling centers that accept refrigerators. Open a listing for hours, contact info, and directions.