Appliances need special handling
Big appliances are mostly steel, which makes them highly recyclable, but a few, especially refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, contain refrigerant (often called Freon) that has to be recovered by a certified technician before the unit can be scrapped. That's federal law, and it's why you can't simply set a fridge at the curb like a bag of trash.
Your options for old appliances
- Retailer haul-away, many stores will take your old appliance when they deliver the new one, sometimes free, sometimes for a fee.
- Scrap metal recycler, appliances without refrigerant (washers, dryers, stoves) can go to a scrap yard, which may even pay you a little.
- Utility rebate programs, some Washington utilities occasionally offer fridge/freezer recycling pickups; check with yours.
- Junk removal, the hands-off route: we disconnect, carry it out from any floor, and handle certified recycling for you.
Why refrigerators cost a little extra
Because fridges, freezers, and AC units require certified refrigerant recovery, there's a small state-related fee to dispose of them properly. Any honest hauler will include it in your quote upfront rather than spring it on you at pickup. It's the same reason a transfer station charges more for a fridge than for a table.
The easy way
If you'd rather not wrestle a fridge down the stairs or line up a scrap run, appliance removal is one of the most common jobs we do. We handle refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, and water heaters, recycle what we can, and give you one upfront price with the refrigerant fee already included.
