How to dispose of appliances
Start with your city: most cities take appliances through bulk trash. Choose your city below to jump to its rules, or read the options that apply anywhere.
Your city’s rules for appliances
| Hazardous? | Sometimes. Refrigerant-containing appliances (window AC, dehumidifiers) fall under Section 608 safe-disposal rules; older appliances may contain mercury/PCBs. (epa.gov) |
|---|
Ways to get rid of appliances
City bulk pickup
Municipal bulky-item collection. (epa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Utility program
Utility rebate/bounty programs. (epa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Retailer take-back
Retailer haul-away/drop-off. (epa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Scrap metal recycler
Metal recycling (most metal components are recycled). (epa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Rules to know
State programs and laws
| State | Program or law | Source |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | Large appliances (refrigerators, washers/dryers) and air conditioners: Fort Totten Transfer Station or 311 bulk trash appointment. | dpw.dc.gov |
| Florida | White goods (major appliances) may not be disposed of in landfills (s. 403.708(12)(d), F.S.). | leg.state.fl.us |
| Illinois | White goods (refrigerators, freezers, ranges, water heaters, AC units, etc.) with mercury switches, CFC refrigerant and PCB components not removed are banned from landfills (since July 1, 1994). | epa.illinois.gov |
| Massachusetts | Large appliances are banned from disposal. | recyclesmartma.org |
| Minnesota | Major appliances may not be put in the trash or landfilled; they must be recycled or reused, and each county must give households an opportunity to recycle them. | revisor.mn.gov |
| Missouri | Major appliances (refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves, ovens, dishwashers, water heaters, etc.) are banned from landfills; microwaves were removed from the list in 2002. | dnr.mo.gov |
| Nebraska | Household appliances (washers, dryers, water heaters, AC units, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ovens, stoves, etc.) are banned from landfills; use appliance recyclers or landfills that separate them for recycling. | dwee.nebraska.gov |
| North Carolina | White goods (large appliances) are banned from landfill disposal. | deq.nc.gov |
| South Carolina | White goods (major appliances) may not be included with municipal solid waste for landfill disposal, and MSW landfills may not accept them (SC Code 44-96-200). | scstatehouse.gov |
| South Dakota | White goods (large appliances) may not be landfilled. | danr.sd.gov |
| Wisconsin | Major appliances are banned from landfill disposal. | dnr.wisconsin.gov |
Cautions
- Never vent refrigerant; illegal dumping and venting still occur.
Related guides
All disposal guidesChecked October 30, 2026 against federal, state and program pages. Local rules come first: your city’s page shows its own pickup and drop-off rules.