The short answer: You can’t just leave a fridge, freezer or air conditioner at the curb in most of Texas. By federal law the refrigerant (the cooling gas) has to be safely removed before the appliance is scrapped & the disposal recorded. The easy route for most people is free: let the store haul the old one away when a new one is delivered, use a utility or city appliance pickup, or take it to a scrap-metal yard that handles the refrigerant for you. Plain metal appliances with no refrigerant — stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers — are simpler & usually free to scrap.
Why fridges & AC units have special rules
Refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners & dehumidifiers contain refrigerant gas. Under the U.S. Clean Air Act (EPA Section 608), that refrigerant must be recovered with proper equipment before the appliance reaches its final disposal — and the last handler in the chain (a scrap yard or landfill) has to keep a signed record that it was done.
The good news: you personally do not need any certification to drop one off. The facility takes care of the recovery & paperwork. That’s why most landfills & scrap yards ask you to bring the unit to them rather than tossing it in a general dumpster, & some charge a small “Freon removal” fee.
Source: U.S. EPA, “Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements” — the final person in the disposal chain is responsible for ensuring refrigerant is recovered before final disposal. Verified June 2026. epa.gov/section608
Your easiest free & low-cost options
1. Let the retailer take the old one (usually free)
If you’re buying a replacement, most appliance retailers will haul away your old fridge, washer or stove on the delivery truck — often free, sometimes for a small fee. Ask before you buy. This is the simplest path because the store deals with the refrigerant.
2. City or utility appliance pickup
Many Texas cities collect large appliances (“white goods”) on bulky-trash days or by appointment. Some electric co-ops even run a fridge & freezer recycling program that pays you a small rebate for an old working unit. Check your city’s solid-waste page or electric provider.
3. Scrap-metal yard
Scrap yards accept appliances for the steel value. For plain metal items (stove, dishwasher, washer, dryer) you may even be paid a few dollars by weight. For anything with refrigerant, the yard may charge a small evacuation fee or ask for proof the gas was removed. Call ahead — rules & prices vary yard to yard, so we say Call to confirm rather than quote a number we can’t verify for your local yard.
4. Landfill or transfer station
Most landfills & transfer stations take appliances, charging either a flat per-item “appliance” fee or normal disposal rates plus a refrigerant-handling charge. Use our directory to find a site near you & check the listing’s source link for its posted fee.
Before you haul it
- Empty & clean it out — some sites refuse food-soiled fridges.
- Tape or remove the door so a child can’t get trapped inside (this is also the law in many places).
- Don’t try to release or “let out” the refrigerant yourself — it’s illegal & the facility handles it.
- Microwaves & small appliances usually go in normal bulky trash, but electronics rules may apply — see our TV & electronics guide.
Related guides
- How to dispose of a water heater in Texas
- How to get rid of old furniture in Texas
- Household hazardous waste in Texas
Every fee in our directory is tied to a dated source link — if a facility doesn’t publish its appliance charge, we mark it “Call to confirm” instead of guessing. Here’s how our data promise works.