Denver Junk Removal · Resource Center
How to Dispose of Old Appliances in Denver
You can’t just wheel an old fridge to the curb — Denver won’t take appliances in regular pickup, and federal law says the refrigerant has to be recovered first. Here’s every option, including two free ones.
Old appliances — the dead fridge in the garage, a washer that finally quit, a stove from a remodel — are heavy (a fridge averages ~250 lbs), often full of sealed refrigerant, and specifically not accepted in Denver’s regular curbside pickup. The good news: there are a few free ways to get them gone, plus one that pays you. Here’s how it works.
Your options, ranked
| Option | Cost | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Denver’s free Appliance Collection | Free | By appointment, city-trash homes only — call (720) 913-1311. Takes fridges, washers, dryers, stoves & more. |
| Xcel Energy fridge/freezer recycling | Pays $50 | Free pickup + a $50 rebate — but only for a still-working fridge or freezer, Xcel electric customers. |
| Retailer haul-away on delivery | ~$15–$50 | Only when you’re buying a new one, usually same-category, one-for-one. |
| Scrap-metal recycler | Free / small payout | You haul 200–300 lbs yourself; refrigerant units may be refused unless drained. |
| Same-day junk pickup | Flat fee | Easiest for dead units, upstairs/basement, apartments, or same-day — we handle the refrigerant routing. |
Denver’s regular Large Item Pickup (every nine weeks, five-item cap) excludes appliances — along with electronics, construction debris, and hazardous waste. Instead, the city runs a separate free Appliance Collection by appointment for households on city trash service: call Denver Solid Waste Management at (720) 913-1311. Apartments, HOAs, and businesses with private haulers aren’t eligible.
Dead fridge, no truck, or not on city trash service?
The refrigerant rule you can’t skip
That old fridge, freezer, window AC, or dehumidifier contains refrigerant — a gas sealed in its cooling system (older units use R-12 or R-134a; newer ones use R-600a). Under the EPA’s Clean Air Act Section 608, that refrigerant must be professionally recovered before the appliance can be scrapped or landfilled — it’s illegal to just vent it or crush the unit with the charge inside.
The last handler in the disposal chain is legally responsible for making sure refrigerant was recovered — which is exactly why the city, Xcel, and licensed haulers route these appliances through proper recovery, and why a scrap yard may turn away a charged fridge. Do it the wrong way and you own the liability.
The two free routes (and their catches)
Denver’s free Appliance Collection
If you’re a Denver resident on city trash service, this is the best free option. Call (720) 913-1311 to schedule; they collect stoves, ovens, water heaters, furnaces, dishwashers, microwaves, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, washers, and dryers, recycle the metals, and handle the refrigerant safely. The only catch: it’s appointment-based and city-serviced homes only.
Xcel Energy’s fridge recycling (it pays you $50)
Xcel Energy Colorado electric customers can have a working refrigerator or freezer (roughly 10–30 cubic feet) picked up free and get a $50 rebate — call 888-356-7660 or sign up online. The program exists to retire old energy-hog units off the grid, so it only takes ones that still run. A dead fridge doesn’t qualify — that’s where the city appointment or a pickup comes in.
What happens to a recycled appliance
Appliances are one of the most recyclable things you own. After the refrigerant and any hazardous parts (mercury switches in older units, PCB capacitors in pre-1979 ones) are removed, the carcass is shredded and the metals separated — magnets pull the ferrous steel, eddy currents separate the non-ferrous copper and aluminum from the compressor and condenser coils.
Most major appliances are about 75% steel by weight, and a fridge over ten years old holds 120+ pounds of recyclable steel — melted down and reused indefinitely. That’s why keeping them out of the landfill actually matters.
How to prep an appliance for pickup
- Empty and clean it. Pull all food, defrost the freezer, and wipe it down so it doesn’t grow mold or odor.
- Secure or remove the doors. A latched fridge or freezer is a child-entrapment hazard — tape the doors shut or take them off before it leaves the house.
- Disconnect water and gas. Shut off the ice-maker line, washer hoses, or a gas stove/dryer line, and let it dry.
- Clear the path and tape the cord so a heavy unit has a straight, safe route out.
Appliance disposal FAQs
How do I dispose of a refrigerator in Denver?
Not through regular curbside pickup — appliances are excluded. Use Denver’s free Appliance Collection appointment at (720) 913-1311 (city-trash homes), Xcel’s recycling for a $50 rebate if it still works (888-356-7660), a scrap-metal recycler, or a same-day junk-removal pickup for a dead unit.
Does the city of Denver take appliances?
Not in regular Large Item Pickup — appliances are excluded. But Denver Solid Waste Management offers a separate free appliance collection by appointment for households on city trash service, including fridges, freezers, washers, dryers, and stoves. Call (720) 913-1311.
Do you have to remove the Freon before disposing of a fridge?
Yes. Under EPA Section 608, refrigerant must be professionally recovered before a refrigerator, freezer, AC, or dehumidifier is scrapped or landfilled — venting it is illegal. The city, Xcel, and licensed haulers handle this recovery for you.
Where can I recycle a washer or dryer in Denver?
Free through Denver’s city appliance appointment (if eligible), at a local scrap-metal recycler, or via a junk-removal pickup. Washers and dryers are about 75% steel and fully recyclable — they just weigh 100–170 lbs, so they’re a two-person job.
How much does appliance removal cost?
A single-appliance junk-removal pickup typically runs about $75–$250, with refrigerators at the higher end because certified refrigerant recovery adds cost. Free routes exist too — Denver’s city appointment, and Xcel even pays $50 for a working fridge.
Let us haul the appliance
Same-day appliance removal across the Denver metro — we do the heavy lifting and route refrigerant units to proper recovery, so you don’t have to. Works for dead units, apartments, and businesses the free programs won’t. Free quote, flat price up front.