What to Do With Old Appliances: Every Option Ranked [2026]

If the appliance still works, you have options that put money in your pocket or give you a tax deduction.

Sell it. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are the fastest channels. Typical selling prices for used appliances in good condition:

• •Refrigerator: $100-300 depending on age, brand, and features
• •Washer or dryer: $75-200 each, matching sets sell faster
• •Dishwasher: $50-150, must be working and under 8 years old
• •Stove/range: $75-250, gas ranges command higher prices
• •Microwave: $20-60 for over-the-range models, countertop microwaves are hard to sell

List with clear photos, include the brand, model, age, and any issues. Price it to sell in 3-5 days. Buyer picks up and hauls. If it does not sell in a week, lower the price by 25% or list it as free for faster removal.

Broken appliances cannot be donated or sold, but you still have several disposal options.

Scrap metal yards pay by weight for metal appliances. Washers, dryers, stoves, and dishwashers are mostly steel and earn $5-30 each at current scrap prices. You need a truck or trailer to transport them. Call the yard first if the appliance contains refrigerant (fridges, freezers, AC units).

City bulk pickup is free in most major cities. Schedule online or call 311. The wait is 2-8 weeks in most areas, and you need to place the appliance at the curb the night before your scheduled date. Remove doors from refrigerators and freezers before placing at the curb.

Dropcurb picks up broken appliances from your curb for $79 same-day. No condition requirements. Book online, move the appliance to the curb, and a local hauler picks it up within hours.

Refrigerators and freezers need special handling because they contain refrigerant chemicals that are illegal to release into the atmosphere under the Clean Air Act.

Best option: Call your electric utility. Most major utilities run free recycling programs where they pick up old refrigerators and freezers, properly recover the refrigerant, and pay you a $25-75 rebate. Programs are active at Duke Energy, Con Edison, ComEd, PG&E, Southern California Edison, Xcel Energy, APS, and Georgia Power. The unit must be working, plugged in, and between 10-30 cubic feet.

If the fridge is broken or does not qualify for the utility program, schedule a city bulk pickup or use Dropcurb for same-day removal. Both handle refrigerant disposal as part of the process.

Small appliances are easier to deal with than large ones.

If working: Donate to Goodwill or Salvation Army (drop off at any store), list on Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor, or give to friends and family.

If broken: Drop off at Best Buy for free recycling (up to 3 items per household per day, any store location). Staples also accepts small electronics with cords or batteries. Your county hazardous waste facility accepts small appliances during regular hours or scheduled collection events.

Do not put small appliances in your curbside recycling bin. The motors, wiring, and circuit boards are not compatible with single-stream recycling and can damage processing equipment.

A few common approaches that create problems.

• •Leaving appliances in an alley or vacant lot: Illegal dumping carries fines of $250-25,000 depending on your city and state. Refrigerators left in accessible areas also create child entrapment hazards
• •Putting large appliances in regular trash: Your trash hauler will skip them. Some cities fine homeowners for placing oversized items in regular collection bins
• •Venting refrigerant yourself: Federal violation under the Clean Air Act. Fines start at $44,539 per day per violation
• •Paying a random person on Craigslist: No guarantee of proper disposal. If they dump it illegally, some jurisdictions hold the original owner liable