Refrigerant
Fridges, freezers, window units
Refrigerant has to be recovered before final disposal. EPA does not accept a sticker on the appliance as proof; the final disposer still needs the signed statement.1
Appliance disposal: refrigerant first, then metal
Old appliances are mostly metal, and metal recyclers want them. The catch is what is inside. Refrigerators, freezers and window air conditioners usually reach the waste stream with their refrigerant still in them, and federal rules require it to be recovered before final disposal.1 Sort what you have into those two groups before anything is loaded.
- RefrigerantRecovered first
- SignedStatement or contract
- Then metalTo a recycler
Why it is its own stream
Two groups, two routes
Every appliance falls into one of two groups. The first needs refrigerant recovered and documented before it is scrapped. The second is metal once it is unhooked and drained. EPA's per-unit weights are on each tag.2
Which way out
A crew, a dumpster, or a take-back program?
For a few appliances, the right tool is usually not a dumpster.
- A few units
Junk hauling
A crew carries them out and hauls them away in one visit, often with the rest of a cleanout. Tell us which ones hold refrigerant. See junk hauling and cleanouts.
- Ask first
A roll-off with other debris
Washers, dryers and ranges can ride with remodel debris if the provider agrees. Our dumpster guide lists fridges, freezers and window units as ask first.
- Try first
A retailer or utility program
Buying a new fridge? The retailer delivering it, or a utility appliance recycling program, may take the old one. EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal partners include utilities and retailers.4
How heavy
Appliances add up by the unit
EPA's per-unit weights, and what ten of each come to.2 Handy for a cleanout of a building with many units.
| Appliance | EPA weight, one unit | Ten units |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 250 lb | About 1.25 tons |
| Clothes washer | 150 lb | About 0.75 tons |
| Stove | 150 lb | About 0.75 tons |
| Clothes dryer | 125 lb | About 0.63 tons |
| Dishwasher | 125 lb | About 0.63 tons |
Loose in a container, EPA puts major appliances at about 145 pounds a cubic yard, so they fill space well before they reach a typical weight limit.2 Limits vary by hauler and market, so confirm the tons included in writing. The dumpster weight limits guide explains tons included, and the dumpster size guide compares sizes.
What is inside
Refrigerant, oil and older components
The metal shell is the easy part. What needs handling is inside.
Used oil, mercury, PCBs
Older refrigerated appliances
EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal program counts avoiding the release of used oil, mercury and PCBs among the reasons its partners dispose of old refrigerated appliances with care.4 One more reason to send them to a recycler that handles them.
Water and gas
Washers, dishwashers, water heaters
Water left in a tank or drum adds weight and leaks in the truck. Shut off and disconnect water and gas lines, and drain what you can, before the unit is moved.
Doors and lids
Anything with a latch
A fridge or freezer waiting at the curb or in a yard should not be able to close on anyone. Take the door off, or tape it shut, until pickup.
Prep
Six steps before the appliances move
List them
Every appliance, by type, and whether it holds refrigerant.
Check take-back first
A retailer delivering a replacement, or a utility program, may take the old unit.
Disconnect and drain
Water and gas off and disconnected by someone qualified. Drain hoses and tanks.
Empty and secure
Food out of fridges, doors off or taped shut, loose shelves removed.
Plan the refrigerant
Know who recovers it and who signs the statement before a fridge goes to scrap.
Keep the paperwork
A copy of the signed statement or contract stays with the job records.
Keep it out
What stays out of a debris box or scrap load
Until it is dealt with, each of these can get a load refused. The disposal site or recycler has the final say, and state rules can be stricter.
- Fridges, freezers and window units with refrigerantRecovered first, with a signed statement naming who recovered it and when.5
- BatteriesEPA says lithium-ion batteries should not go in garbage or recycling bins, because a damaged battery can start a fire.6
- Food and liquidsEmpty fridges and freezers, and drain washers, dishwashers and water heaters.
- Anything still connectedGas and water lines are shut off and disconnected before a crew or a provider moves the unit.
The rules
Federal refrigerant rules
Federal rules set the floor. States, cities and the recycler can add to them.
40 CFR 82, Subpart F
The final person in the chain
Under EPA's Section 608 safe disposal rules, the final person in the disposal chain, such as a scrap metal recycler or landfill owner, is responsible for making sure refrigerant is recovered before final disposal.1
40 CFR 82.155(b)
Signed statement or contract
The final processor either recovers the refrigerant or verifies recovery. A signed statement must include the name and address of the person who recovered the refrigerant and the date. A contract with a regular supplier can take its place.5
40 CFR 82.155(b)(iii)
When it already leaked
If all the refrigerant leaked out, the final processor needs a signed statement saying so. Cutting refrigerant lines does not count as a leak.5
40 CFR 82.155(c)
Three years of records
The final processor keeps the signed statements or contracts on site, on paper or electronically, for three years.5
How it works with Detritus
One request for the cleanout
Send one request. For a handful of appliances, we source a local junk hauling crew to load and haul them; for a remodel or a large cleanout, a roll-off from a local provider in the markets we serve. Availability varies by market. Tell us which appliances hold refrigerant before anything is loaded, and we confirm with the provider how recovery is handled.
- The address, and stairs, elevators or tight access
- Each appliance by type and how many
- Which ones hold refrigerant
- Whether they are disconnected and drained
- What else is going: furniture, debris, metal
- The date it has to be empty
Decide
If this, then that
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Replacing one fridge | Ask the retailer delivering the new one, or your utility, to take the old one |
| A few appliances in a move-out | A junk hauling crew. See junk hauling and cleanouts |
| A kitchen remodel with an old range and dishwasher | Declare them on the roll-off quote, disconnected and drained |
| A building full of old units | Plan refrigerant recovery first, then metal in its own container. See scrap metal dumpsters |
| Not sure if it holds refrigerant | Treat it as if it does, and ask before it is loaded |
| A dumpster or a crew? | Compare them in dumpster vs junk removal |
Common questions
Appliance disposal questions
Can I put a refrigerator in a dumpster?
Only after the refrigerant has been recovered. Federal rules make the final party in the disposal chain responsible for that, with a signed statement, so ask before you load one.
Can washers, dryers and stoves go in a dumpster?
Often, if the provider agrees and they are disconnected and drained. Declare them when you order, because they are mostly metal and some loads go to a recycler.
Who removes the refrigerant?
Someone using proper recovery equipment, before the appliance reaches final disposal. The scrap recycler or landfill at the end of the chain must recover it or get a signed statement that it was recovered.
What does the signed statement need to say?
The name and address of the person who recovered the refrigerant and the date it was recovered. A contract with a regular supplier can take its place.
Is a dumpster or junk hauling better for appliances?
For a few appliances, junk hauling is usually simpler because a crew does the lifting. For a remodel or a large cleanout with other debris, a roll-off can make sense.
How much does a refrigerator weigh?
EPA uses 250 pounds for a refrigerator, 150 for a washer or stove and 125 for a dryer or dishwasher.
How do I get a quote?
Call sales at (888) 588-2607 or request a quote with the address, each appliance and which ones hold refrigerant.
Old appliances to clear out?
List them and say which hold refrigerant. Local providers do the work; we hold the contract, own the problems, and send one bill.
Related guides
Sources
- U.S. EPA, Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements (Section 608): household refrigerators and freezers and window air conditioners typically enter the waste stream with their refrigerant intact; the final person in the disposal chain, such as a scrap metal recycler or landfill owner, is responsible for ensuring refrigerant is recovered before final disposal, using a signed statement or a contract with regular suppliers; EPA does not accept stickers as verification. Checked November 5, 2026. epa.gov
- U.S. EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (April 2016): old corrugated containers flattened 106 lb per cubic yard, and corrugated and chip board uncompacted 74.54 lb; refrigerator 250 lb, clothes washer 150, stove 150, clothes dryer 125 and dishwasher 125 lb per unit; major appliances 145 lb per loose cubic yard; desktop 27 lb, laptop 9.8, CRT monitor 40, flat panel monitor 24, CRT TV over 19 inch 73, flat panel TV 29 and printer 16.1 lb each; food waste 463 lb per cubic yard, restaurant food waste 396 lb per cubic yard, and a 64 gallon toter of food waste 150 lb. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- U.S. EPA, Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Materials: metals including steel, copper and brass are valuable commodities to recycle. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- U.S. EPA, Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program, 2021 Annual Program Update: a voluntary partnership with utilities, retailers, manufacturers, state and local agencies, waste removal providers and others that collects used refrigerated appliances; partners avoid the release of ozone-depleting substances, greenhouse gases, used oil, mercury and PCBs, and recycle metals, plastics and glass. Checked November 5, 2026. epa.gov
- 40 CFR 82.155, safe disposal of small appliances, MVAC and MVAC-like appliances: the final processor recovers remaining refrigerant or verifies recovery with a signed statement (name and address of the person who recovered it and the date) or a contract; a signed statement is required if all refrigerant leaked out, and cutting refrigerant lines is not a leak; records kept on site for three years. Checked November 5, 2026. ecfr.gov
- U.S. EPA, Used Lithium-Ion Batteries (last updated March 20, 2026): lithium-ion batteries and devices containing them should not go in household garbage or recycling bins; batteries damaged in transport or sorting create a fire hazard, and an increase in fires at recycling and waste facilities prompted an industry campaign; take them to separate recycling or household hazardous waste collection points; tape terminals or bag each battery. Checked November 5, 2026. epa.gov