How to Get Rid of Old Appliances in Los Angeles and Orange County

By The Bin & Beyond Team · Published September 10, 2026

Old refrigerator and washing machine waiting in a driveway for appliance removal

Appliances are the one category where doing it wrong has consequences beyond a cluttered side yard. Refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners contain refrigerants that are regulated, and in California they cannot simply be thrown in a landfill bin.

Appliances That Need Special Handling

Refrigerators and freezers, because of refrigerant and oils
Air conditioners and dehumidifiers, same reason
Water heaters, which are heavy, sometimes still full, and often gas connected
Anything with mercury switches, common in older units

These are classed as appliances requiring certified refrigerant recovery before the metal can be recycled. A legitimate disposal route handles that step. A guy with a truck who offers to take it for $20 cash generally does not.

Option 1: Utility Recycling Programs

Several Southern California utilities run appliance recycling programs that will collect a working but inefficient refrigerator or freezer from your home, sometimes with a rebate. If your old fridge still runs, check this first, because getting paid to have something removed is hard to beat.

The catch is that these programs generally require the unit to be operational and to meet size requirements. A dead fridge does not qualify.

Option 2: Retailer Haul Away

Buying a replacement washer or refrigerator? Almost every major retailer will remove the old unit on delivery for a fee, and sometimes free during promotions. This is the cleanest path because the disconnect and the removal happen in one visit. Confirm it at checkout, not on delivery day.

Option 3: Scrap Metal Recycling

Washers, dryers, dishwashers, and stoves are mostly steel and have real scrap value. If you can transport it, a scrap yard will take it and may pay you a small amount. Refrigerators and AC units are a different story: most yards will only take them after refrigerant has been certifiably removed.

Option 4: Professional Appliance Removal

This is the option for a dead water heater in a hallway closet, a fridge in a second floor unit, or a washer that has been sitting behind the garage for three years. We charge $65 for the first item and $15 for each additional item, we bring the equipment to move it safely, and the unit goes to a facility equipped to handle it.

One thing we ask: have the appliance disconnected before we arrive. We are haulers, not plumbers or electricians, and gas and water lines need to be shut off properly by someone licensed to do it.

Old appliance out of the way this week

First item $65, each additional $15. Serving Los Angeles County and Orange County homes and businesses.

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Before Pickup Day: A Short Checklist

Empty and defrost refrigerators and freezers at least 24 hours ahead.
Disconnect water, gas, and power lines, or have a licensed pro do it.
Tape doors shut on fridges and freezers so they cannot close on a child.
Clear a path from the appliance to the driveway.

Why Not Just Leave It at the Curb?

Two reasons. First, an unsecured refrigerator on a public street is a genuine child safety hazard and cities treat it accordingly. Second, illegal dumping enforcement across LA County is active, and a citation costs multiples of a scheduled pickup. If you want it at the curb, schedule your city's bulky item collection first and put it out the night before the confirmed date.

We work across both counties, including Downey, Norwalk, Bellflower, Cerritos, Fullerton, La Habra, Torrance, and Gardena. If you also manage a property or a business, our commercial services cover dumpster cleaning on the same schedule.