Storage.com
Clear the clutter. Keep what matters.
Compare U.S. storage units for the furniture and seasonal gear you want to keep after a cleanout.
Compare nearby storage unitsMetal recycling
How to Recycle Lawn Mowers
Push, self-propelled, riding, and battery-powered mowers. Their steel decks, aluminum engine parts, and batteries all have recovery routes.
Check local acceptanceScrap yards pay by weight. A push mower brings a few dollars, and a riding mower brings more because of its weight. Check current rates on our scrap price page.Last reviewed October 14, 2026
Quick answer
Scrap yards buy old lawn mowers for their steel and aluminum once you drain the gas and oil. Remove the battery from electric and riding mowers and recycle it separately. Working mowers sell quickly secondhand, and many retailers and repair shops take old mowers when you buy a new one. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Typical value
- Scrap yards pay by weight. A push mower brings a few dollars, and a riding mower brings more because of its weight. Check current rates on our scrap price page.
How to Prepare
- 1Sell or donate a working mower first
- 2Run the engine dry or siphon gas into an approved container
- 3Drain the engine oil into a sealed container and take it to an oil recycler
- 4Remove the battery from riding or cordless mowers
- 5Call a scrap yard to confirm it accepts small engines, then drop off the mower
Where to Recycle
- Scrap metal yards
- Small-engine repair shops
- Retailers with haul-away programs
- Municipal bulky-item collection
Special Instructions
Most scrap yards refuse equipment that still holds fuel or oil. Cordless mower batteries are lithium-ion and belong at a battery drop-off, never in the trash. Riding mower batteries are lead-acid and go back to an auto parts store or scrap yard.
Environmental Impact
A mower holds mostly steel and aluminum, and both recycle without losing quality. Draining fluids keeps oil and gasoline out of soil and groundwater.
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Push and self-propelled mowers with fluids drained
- Riding mowers with fluids and battery removed
- Cordless mowers with the battery removed
Not Accepted
- Mowers that still hold gas or oil
- Lithium-ion mower batteries in trash or curbside carts
Donation & Take‑Back Options
Estimated value: Scrap yards pay by weight. A push mower brings a few dollars, and a riding mower brings more because of its weight. Check current rates on our scrap price page.
Hazardous Components
- Gasoline
- Engine oil
- Lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries
FAQs
Will a scrap yard take a lawn mower?
Most will, once you drain the gas and oil. Call ahead to confirm.
How much is a scrap lawn mower worth?
A push mower brings a few dollars in scrap steel and aluminum. Heavier riding mowers bring more.
What do I do with old mower gas?
Use it in another engine if it is fresh, or take it to a household hazardous waste site.
Recycle lawn mowers
Search recycling centers by city or ZIP, or explore more metal materials.