Household recycling
How to Recycle Large Appliances
Refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and window air conditioners. Mostly steel, but the refrigerant and the insulating foam are what determine how one should be handled.
Check local acceptanceLast reviewed July 28, 2026
Quick answer
Check your electric utility first, since bounty programs often pay you and haul it away. Refrigerant has to be recovered by a technician, so a fridge or freezer never goes curbside. Do not assume retailer haul-away is free: it is usually tied to buying and taking delivery of a replacement. An appliance left at the curb may simply be landfilled.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
How to Prepare
- 1Check your electric utility's bounty or pickup program first, since these often pay a rebate
- 2Confirm eligibility before booking, since utility programs commonly require the unit to be working and above a minimum size or age
- 3Ask what retailer haul-away costs, since it usually depends on buying and taking delivery of a replacement