How to Dispose of Old Lawn Mowers

A dead lawn mower doesn’t get lighter just because it stopped starting. Push mowers still weigh 60 to 100 pounds and some riding mowers can reach up to 500. It also can’t just go out with the trash: most curbside services won’t take it, and gas and oil residue makes it a hazard, not household waste. Some cities will even fine you for trying anyway.

You’ve got four real ways to deal with it: sell it, donate it, scrap it, or have it picked up. The right one depends on whether it still runs, and how much patience you’ve got for finding out.

If your mower still runs, selling it beats letting it collect dust. A quick way to check what it’s worth: search your exact model on a site like NADAguides or Facebook Marketplace and see what similar used mowers are actually selling for. That gives you a real number instead of a guess.

Some small engine repair shops and DIY buyers will take a mower even if it’s broken, fix it up, and resell it. But if you want the best price, skip the yard sale and list it online instead. Facebook Marketplace, eBay, OfferUp, and Craigslist all reach more buyers than a sign in your yard ever will.

A few things that help it sell faster:

• Take real photos. Buyers want to see the actual mower, not a stock image.
• Be honest about condition. A mower that’s accurately described sells faster than one that gets returned.
• Meet in public. A busy parking lot is safer than your driveway for online sales.

A working mower can help someone else, even if you don’t want the hassle of selling it. Local charities, churches, animal shelters, and community gardens often take mower donations, and some will even pick it up for a small fee. If you’d rather skip the calls, LoadUp’s donation pickup service can take it to a donation partner for you.

If you already know someone who could use it, that’s the easiest option of all. Ask around; a neighbor, a family member, or a local nonprofit near you might be glad to take it off your hands for free.

Yes, and it’s worth knowing before you decide what to do next.

Push mowers are light enough to carry or roll yourself. Most of the options above work fine without needing any special equipment.

Riding mowers are a different story. They’re heavier, worth more, and usually need a ramp or trailer just to move. That extra value cuts both ways: a working riding mower sells for real money, but a broken one is a lot harder to haul away on your own. If yours doesn’t start and you don’t have a trailer, a pickup service is often the fastest way to actually get it out of your yard.

If selling and donating aren’t options, your mower still has value as scrap. Mowers are built with real metal, aluminum, steel, and sometimes copper, and scrap dealers pay for that.

Here’s the part most people don’t expect: selling a mower for parts often pays more than selling it whole. A small engine mechanic may pay you for individual working parts, sometimes close to double what a scrap yard would offer for the entire machine. It takes more time to sort out the parts, but it can be worth it if you’re not in a rush.

Want the full breakdown on recycling, scrap prices, and even retailer trade-in programs? Our guide to recycling old lawn mowers covers all of that in detail.

If selling, donating, and scrapping don’t fit your situation, or your mower is too broken or heavy to deal with yourself, LoadUp can pick it up for you.

We take push mowers and riding mowers in any condition, working or not, and route them to donation or recycling whenever we can instead of straight to a landfill. Pickup is available as soon as today in most areas, and you’ll get an upfront price before booking, no on-site estimate, no surprise fees.

While we’re there, we can also take other garden equipment sitting in your garage or shed:

• Lawn edgers
• Chainsaws
• Leaf blowers
• Snow blowers
• Weed eaters
• Axes and machetes

Our Loaders are background-checked and fully insured, and pricing typically runs 20 to 30% lower than most other junk removal companies.

Got other yard tools to clear out at the same time? Our guide to spring yard cleanup guide covers how to donate or dispose of old chainsaws, leaf blowers, and more.