Getting rid of an old refrigerator, freezer or air conditioner

As of 2026, an estimated 11 to 13 million refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerated appliances are retired in the United States each year. Each one holds a refrigerant, and older ones hold refrigerant in the foam insulation too. Released into the air, the older refrigerants destroy the ozone layer. Older appliances can also contain mercury switches and relays, contaminated oils and PCBs. Planning the pickup before the new appliance arrives keeps the old one from sitting in the garage or ending up at the curb.

What you need

• The appliance's type and rough age, from the label inside the door or on the back
• The name of the electric utility
• The retailer delivering the new appliance, if there is one
• The city or county trash service's contact details
• A clear path out of the house

Steps

1. 1

   Find out what it holds

   Refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners and dehumidifiers all use refrigerant. Older ones used CFC and HCFC refrigerants that harm the ozone layer. Newer ones use HFCs, and some new models use non-fluorinated refrigerants such as R-290, which is propane.

   5 min

2. 2

   Ask the electric utility first

   Some electric utilities run appliance turn-in programs that collect old refrigerators and freezers. Some accept only units that still work, or that meet a minimum age or size, so have the details on hand when you call.

   15 min

3. 3

   Ask the retailer about haul-away

   Some retailers pick up and dispose of the old appliance when they deliver the new one. Others take an old appliance dropped off at the store.

   10 min

4. 4

   Ask the city or county trash service

   Some trash services collect bulky items by appointment. Others ask you to bring the appliance to a transfer station or landfill. Some take a refrigerated appliance only after a technician, such as someone from an appliance repair shop, has removed the refrigerant.

   15 min

5. 5

   Get it ready for pickup

   Empty it, unplug it and let a refrigerator or freezer defrost with the door open, with towels underneath. Clean it out so it doesn't smell while it waits.

   20 min

6. 6

   Book the pickup instead of leaving it outside

   Schedule the collection with the utility program, the retailer, the trash service or a recycler. An appliance left at the curb might be landfilled or disposed of unsafely.

   5 min

7. 7

   Keep a note of where it went

   Record who took the appliance and on what date in the home's records.

   5 min

What happens to it after pickup

Some appliances that still work are refurbished and resold. An old refrigerator uses a lot of electricity, so keeping it running somewhere else wastes energy.

Nearly every material in a refrigerator or freezer can be recycled. That includes the metal cabinet, the refrigerant and oil in the compressor, and the blowing agent in the foam insulation. A recycler first recovers the refrigerant and removes the hazardous parts, then shreds the appliance. The metal is separated and recycled, and the glass, plastic and foam usually go to a landfill.

If you're replacing it

An old refrigerator costs more to run than a new one. Refrigerator age and what an old one costs to run works out what yours costs. Moving a refrigerator covers getting it out of the kitchen and through the door.