An old refrigerator needs a planned pickup because its refrigerant and other components require special handling.
Start with the retailer delivering your replacement, your electric utility, local public works, or an appliance recycler. Confirm the service before moving the fridge or setting it outside.
Do Not Put a Refrigerator Out With Regular Trash
A refrigerator is bulky and contains refrigerant, compressor oil, insulation, and materials that need controlled recovery or disposal.
EPA says not to tamper with the appliance, cut refrigerant lines, or remove the compressor. Knowing release of most refrigerants during disposal is prohibited.
Arrange collection through a recognized program. Appliances left at the curb without a plan can be picked up or handled outside the proper waste route.
Ask the Retailer About Haul-Away
If a new refrigerator is arriving, ask the retailer whether delivery includes removal of the old one.
Confirm the fee, appliance size limit, service area, stairs, disconnect requirements, pickup location, and final recycling or disposal route.
Ask how the collector handles refrigerant and other hazardous components. Do not assume every delivery crew provides the same service.
Check Your Electric Utility
EPA recommends checking whether your electric utility offers an appliance turn-in program.
Eligibility may depend on account status, location, appliance size, age, working condition, or pickup access. Some programs offer an incentive, while others do not.
Use the utility’s current page or phone number. Old rebate lists and archived RAD partner maps may no longer reflect an active program.
Call Public Works or Your Waste Department
Your municipality may offer an appointment for bulky appliance collection or direct you to a transfer station or contractor.
Ask whether the refrigerator must have refrigerant recovered before collection. If so, ask who can perform that work and what documentation the program requires.
Follow the local set-out time and door instructions. Do not remove doors or place the appliance outside based on another city’s rule.
Use an Appliance Recycler
Contact a recycler that accepts household refrigerators. Ask whether it provides pickup, what it charges, and how it handles refrigerant, oil, switches, and insulation.
EPA’s RAD partnership program ran from 2006 through 2025. Current pages provide disposal guidance and program history, so verify active services directly.
A scrap yard may accept an evacuated appliance, but acceptance and refrigerant documentation vary. Call before loading the refrigerator.
Reuse a Working Refrigerator Carefully
A clean, working unit may have reuse value. Disclose its age, measurements, operating condition, known repairs, and energy use when offering it.
Confirm that the recipient can move it safely and has a suitable location. Do not convert an unplugged refrigerator into storage, a planter, or a play space.
USDA warns that discarded refrigerators can trap children. Follow local door and set-out instructions and keep children away while collection is pending.
Prepare for a Confirmed Pickup
Use the collector’s directions because preparation differs. Ask when to unplug, how long to defrost, and whether it must be dry before pickup.
- Remove all food and personal items.
- Arrange safe disposal of spoiled food separately.
- Secure loose shelves only as the collector directs.
- Clear the path and report stairs, tight turns, or elevators.
- Protect floors and keep children and pets away.
Do not lift a refrigerator alone. Use the collector’s moving service or people with suitable equipment and experience.
What Happens After Collection?
EPA says collected refrigerators may be resold, recycled, or landfilled after required handling.
Recycling typically recovers refrigerant and removes hazardous components before processing the cabinet. Metal is commonly recovered, while some glass, plastic, and foam may still go to landfill.
Ask the program what it does rather than assuming the entire appliance becomes new material.
Questions People Ask
Can You Get Free Refrigerator Pickup?
Sometimes. A retailer, utility, or municipality may include pickup or offer an incentive, but eligibility, fees, and service areas change.
Can You Remove Freon Yourself?
Do not cut lines or remove the compressor. Use the professional or final-disposer process required by the receiving program and EPA rules.
Can You Sell a Broken Refrigerator for Scrap?
Only after a recycler confirms acceptance and refrigerant requirements. A broken appliance can still contain a refrigerant charge and other controlled components.