Who Will Pick Up Old Appliances for Free Near Me? 5 Options [2026]

Most major electric utilities run appliance recycling programs where they pick up your old refrigerator or freezer for free and mail you a rebate check. They do this because old refrigerators built before 2001 use 3-5x more electricity than modern ones. Removing them from the grid saves the utility more money than the rebate costs.

Active programs as of 2026:

• •Duke Energy: Free pickup + $50 rebate per unit (NC, SC, OH, IN, KY, FL)
• •Con Edison: Free pickup + $50 rebate (NYC and Westchester County, NY)
• •ComEd: Free pickup + $75 rebate (Northern Illinois)
• •Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E): Free pickup + $50 rebate (Northern California)
• •Southern California Edison: Free pickup + $50 rebate (Southern California)
• •Xcel Energy: Free pickup + $35 rebate (CO, MN, WI, MI)
• •APS (Arizona Public Service): Free pickup + $50 rebate (Arizona)
• •Georgia Power: Free pickup + $30 rebate (Georgia)

Requirements are similar across programs: the unit must be working (plugged in and cold), between 10-30 cubic feet, and accessible for a two-person crew to remove. Call your utility or search "[your utility name] appliance recycling" to check your area.

Habitat for Humanity ReStores accept and pick up working appliances in many metro areas. They resell donated appliances at their retail stores, with proceeds funding Habitat home-building projects. You get a tax-deductible donation receipt.

ReStores typically accept: refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and window AC units that are in working condition and under 10 years old. They do not accept appliances with cosmetic damage, rust, missing parts, or that are not functioning.

To schedule a free pickup, visit restore.habitat.org and search for your local ReStore. Not all locations offer pickup, and availability depends on their current truck schedule and inventory needs. Expect a 3-10 day wait for the next available pickup date.

Most cities with populations over 50,000 offer free or low-cost bulk item pickup that includes large appliances. You schedule a pickup date online or by phone, place the appliance at the curb the night before, and a city crew collects it.

Cities with free appliance bulk pickup:

• •Los Angeles: Free, schedule at lacitysan.org, 2-4 week wait
• •Houston: Free, 311 or houstontx.gov, 2-3 week wait
• •San Antonio: Free, 311 or saresource.com, 1-2 week wait
• •Jacksonville: Free, 630-CITY or coj.net, 1-3 week wait
• •Phoenix: Free with regular service, schedule at phoenix.gov

Cities that charge for appliance pickup:

• •Denver: $31 per item, schedule at denvergov.org, 2-4 week wait
• •Chicago: $25 per appliance, 311 or chi311.org
• •Seattle: $30-60 per item through contracted haulers

The main drawback is wait time. Most cities schedule pickups 2-8 weeks out, and missed pickup dates often require rescheduling another 2-4 weeks out.

If you are replacing an appliance, most major retailers will haul away the old one when delivering the new one.

• •Best Buy: $49.99 haul-away per appliance with new appliance purchase. Free haul-away on appliances $399+
• •Home Depot: Free haul-away with qualifying appliance delivery (most built-in dishwashers, fridges, ranges)
• •Lowes: Free haul-away with qualifying appliance delivery
• •Costco: Free haul-away with qualifying delivery orders

Retailer haul-away is the most convenient option when you are already buying a replacement. The delivery team disconnects the old unit and takes it with them. No separate scheduling, no curb placement, no waiting.

Non-working appliances have fewer free pickup options because donation programs and utility rebates require functioning units.

For broken appliances, your best free option is city bulk pickup (available in most major cities). If your city does not offer it or the wait is too long, Dropcurb picks up non-working appliances from the curb for $79 same-day. There is no condition requirement. Working, broken, rusted, or ancient — if you can get it to the curb, they will take it.

Scrap metal buyers sometimes offer free pickup for multiple metal appliances if the scrap value covers their trip. Search "scrap metal pickup" in your area and ask if they will come for the items you have.