Where to Drop Off Old Appliances: 6 Free and Paid Options [2026]

Small appliances like microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, blenders, and vacuum cleaners have the most free drop-off options.

Best Buy accepts up to 3 small appliances per household per day at any store location. No purchase required. Walk in, hand them the appliance at customer service, and walk out. They recycle the materials through their certified e-waste partner.

Staples accepts small appliances with electronic components (anything with a cord or battery). County hazardous waste drop-off events also accept small appliances year-round or during scheduled collection days.

Do not put small appliances in your curbside recycling bin. Motors, wiring, and circuit boards contaminate the recycling stream and can damage sorting equipment.

Large appliances are harder to drop off because they require a truck or trailer to transport. Your main options are scrap metal yards and county transfer stations.

Scrap metal yards accept most large appliances for free or pay you by weight. Steel and iron appliances like washers, dryers, stoves, and dishwashers typically earn $5-30 depending on weight and current scrap prices. Refrigerators and freezers are accepted but require certified refrigerant recovery first, which some yards handle on-site and others require you to get done beforehand.

County transfer stations and recycling centers accept large appliances. Some charge a fee of $10-25 for items containing refrigerants (fridges, freezers, AC units). Non-refrigerant appliances are usually free or under $10.

Habitat for Humanity ReStores accept working large appliances that are under 10 years old. They resell them at a discount and use proceeds to build affordable housing. You get a tax-deductible donation receipt. Many ReStores also offer free pickup for large items.

If you do not own a truck or cannot move the appliance yourself, you have three options that come to you.

Dropcurb picks up appliances from your curb for $79 same-day. You move the appliance to the curb, book online in 60 seconds, and a local hauler picks it up within hours. Works for washers, dryers, dishwashers, window AC units, and dehumidifiers.

City bulk pickup is free in many cities but takes 2-8 weeks. You schedule a pickup date and place the appliance at the curb the night before. Check your city website for availability.

Utility company recycling programs offer free pickup for working refrigerators and freezers. Many pay a $25-75 rebate. Duke Energy, Con Edison, PG&E, Xcel Energy, and ComEd all run active programs.

Goodwill and Salvation Army accept working small appliances like microwaves, coffee makers, and toasters at most locations. They do not accept large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers) at most stores because they lack the space and equipment to handle them.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore is the better donation option for large appliances. They specifically accept and resell large working appliances. Check restore.habitat.org to find your nearest location and confirm what they currently accept.

Before dropping off any appliance, take these steps to avoid being turned away.

• •Unplug and disconnect: Remove power cords from the wall, disconnect water lines from washers and dishwashers, and cap any open gas lines on stoves and dryers
• •Remove doors: Federal law requires removing doors from refrigerators and freezers to prevent child entrapment. Use a screwdriver or socket wrench to remove hinge pins
• •Empty contents: Remove all food, water, and loose parts. Wipe down interiors of fridges and freezers to prevent odor
• •Secure loose parts: Tape cords to the appliance body, secure washer drums with transit bolts if available
• •Check for refrigerants: Fridges, freezers, window AC units, and dehumidifiers contain refrigerants that require special handling. Let the drop-off facility know

Several appliance types have disposal restrictions.

• •Refrigerators and freezers: Contain refrigerants regulated under the Clean Air Act. Must go to a certified recycler or appliance recycling program
• •Window AC units and dehumidifiers: Also contain refrigerants. Same rules as fridges
• •Gas stoves and dryers: Must have gas lines professionally disconnected before transport. Some drop-off locations refuse gas appliances
• •Garbage disposals: Some recycling centers classify these as plumbing fixtures, not appliances. Call ahead

For any appliance containing refrigerant, never attempt to vent the gas yourself. Releasing refrigerants carries fines of up to $44,539 per day per violation under the EPA Clean Air Act.