Refrigerator Removal & Disposal

Yes and no. Older models might contain freon, but most newer models don’t.

Refrigerators manufactured before 1995 likely contain toxic greenhouse chemicals – like freon – that will pollute groundwater and soil without proper disposal. Newer refrigerators contain HFC-134a, a refrigerant with a much lower toxicity concentration than freon. Although this might not be a huge pollutant like freon is, refrigerators are made mostly of steel, which will never decompose in a landfill.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Refrigerators contain up to 152 pounds of steel that will never decompose, since steel isn’t biodegradable like other materials are. Based on their size alone, refrigerators that are dumped in landfills take up about 31 cubic feet each and are literally just taking up valuable space – forever.

Refrigerators that were manufactured prior to 1995 contain freon, a toxic chemical that causes soil and groundwater pollution when it decomposes, so throwing it out in a landfill isn’t the best option, so always try to recycle your fridge instead of throwing it in a landfill.

Some recycling centers will pay you for the metal in your fridge, and will recycle the rest for you. The value of metal, on average, is between 2 and 4 cents per pound, so if you need an extra $5 or $10 bucks, you can haul your fridge to a recycling center. But it’s not always about the money as much as it’s about doing your part to ensure a better tomorrow!

If you can’t manage to haul the fridge yourself, a junk removal company like LoadUp will do all the hard work for you. We will dispose of your old fridge in the most responsible way possible, including recycling and donation.

If your refrigerator is still in working condition, you might be able to sell it through Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. If it no longer works, the most eco-friendly option for getting rid of it is to recycle it. Your local energy company or manufacturer might offer an appliance recycling program through ARCA (Appliance Recycling Centers of America) where they’ll give you anywhere from $15 to $50 for your used fridge and other appliances. Look into one of these programs for conditions, restrictions and drop-off locations.

If you’re unable to find a recycling program near you, contact a local junk hauler who will take a single item to haul it for you. Some junk removal companies will recycle old refrigerators as part of their service, which is better than having it take space up in a landfill.

If your old fridge is still in working condition, there are some charities that might pick up your old refrigerator for free or for a small fee. Be careful when scheduling an at-home pickup with a charity, because if your old fridge isn’t acceptable for donation, they won’t take it away, and you will be charged a fee for them coming out to your home.

There are sometimes scrappers that might offer free fridge removal on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Keep in mind, any time that you choose to have a stranger come pick up anything from your home, you are taking a risk. You should always try to meet in a public place when dealing with strangers.

LoadUp can’t pick up your fridge for free. But we will provide you with a fully-insured professional hauler that will dispose of it responsibly, for a fair and affordable price. Our prices for junk removal are generally 20-30% cheaper than most other companies, making LoadUp the most affordable option for getting rid of an unwanted refrigerator.

Once you’ve scheduled an appointment to have your old refrigerator removed by one of LoadUp’s professional junk haulers, you’ll need to make sure it is ready for pickup by following a few simple steps.

After removing all your perishables, you’ll need to unplug your old fridge to give it time to defrost. If it is connected to a water line, it must be disconnected before one of our Loaders can remove it. Consult your Owner’s Manual for instructions on properly disconnecting the waterline.

Aside from disconnecting the water and power supplies, try to avoid moving the fridge too much. Once you have disconnected the water and power, your fridge is ready to be picked up by one of our courteous and professional Loaders.

Refrigerators can’t just be placed at the curb, so there is generally some sort of expense associated with throwing one away. The average cost for proper removal and disposal of an old refrigerator by a reputable junk removal company like LoadUp starts at $87.

There are some companies that will pick up old refrigerators that are in excellent working condition for donation. Some programs will pay you to pick up your old fridge, but it is often difficult to get an appointment. Since these programs don’t always carry insurance that will cover you or your home in the case of accidental damage, we strongly discourage this option.

If you have an old refrigerator laying around and don’t have the space to store it, call LoadUp. Moving a fridge is difficult, and without the proper tools, can be dangerous. Don’t risk it! Give us a call or book online to get started.

Yes. Your refrigerator must be fully cleaned out of any food or drink items before it can be picked up for disposal. After removing your perishable items, unplug your refrigerator to give it ample time to defrost. If you can get water and ice from your fridge, make sure to disconnect the waterline, as well.

No. For safety purposes, recycling centers require that old appliances like refrigerators be free of tape, rope or other methods of securing doors and drawers. Our Loaders will take care of properly securing your fridge as part of your removal service.