Los Angeles Appliance Disposal

Item: Appliances — refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, water heaters Jurisdiction: City of Los Angeles only, inside the LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) curbside service area Official sources: LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) / MyLA311, City of Los Angeles, California DTSC, LADWP Last verified: September 2026 · Next review: December 2026

Quick answer

If you live inside the City of Los Angeles and get trash collection from LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN), the cheapest legal way to get rid of a refrigerator, washer, dryer, dishwasher, air conditioner or water heater is the free curbside service you already pay for. The catch is order of operations: confirm the service area, confirm the appliance is accepted, schedule it correctly, then prep the doors.

For a residential address inside the City of Los Angeles with LASAN curbside collection:

• Large household appliances are collected free of charge through LASAN's dedicated Metal Appliance Pickup service: refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, and water heaters/standard heaters.
• The citywide bulky item service is officially described as free and unlimited. There is no published per-quarter or per-year item cap.
• Request pickup at least one business day before your regular trash day. Collection lands on your normal collection day, and metal appliances often arrive on a different truck.
• Three ways to schedule: the online Service Request Form, the MyLA311 app, or the 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489. Bring an itemized list — drivers collect only items on the work order.
• A refrigerator or freezer needs door prep. Remove the doors, or safely secure them shut with rope or duct tape. California law also requires a certified recycler to handle the refrigerant.

Quick facts

Eligibility: are you actually in the City of LA service area?

This decides whether anything else here applies to you.

The free service covers addresses inside the City of Los Angeles that receive LASAN curbside collection. Owning or renting doesn't matter, and neither does house versus apartment, though the process differs for larger buildings. Being inside the city limits matters a great deal.

Los Angeles County contains 88 separate cities, and most run their own waste programs. Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, Inglewood, Torrance and Long Beach are not LASAN-served — they set their own rules, fees and accepted items.

Postal addresses are misleading. A "Los Angeles, CA" mailing address does not mean you are in the City of Los Angeles; much of the Valley and unincorporated county carries LA mailing addresses with a different hauler. And the pickup phone line works from anywhere, so reaching a person at 1-800-773-2489 does not mean a free pickup is coming for a Burbank address.

Confirm your address on the official bulky item pickup page or through the Customer Care Center first. Outside the city, contact your own public works department.

A second boundary sits on the appliance, not the address: commercial appliances are officially prohibited from curbside pickup. That covers common-area or commercial-grade equipment in apartment and mixed-use buildings, which needs a private arrangement.

Which appliances qualify — and what is prohibited

The Metal Appliance Pickup service accepts large household metal and white-goods appliances at no extra cost: refrigerators and freezers, washers and dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, and water heaters/standard heaters.

The official list uses the exact phrase "Water Heaters and Standard Heaters," so treat that as the accepted category rather than inventing a size threshold. If your unit is an unusual configuration, ask when you schedule. The MyLA311 white-goods FAQ confirms the core items are collected from all residents serviced by the City of Los Angeles free of charge, on the same day as trash collection.

Prohibited at the curb — refused and left: commercial appliances, automotive parts or used oil, construction materials, paints/solvents/chemicals, medicines or needles, fluorescent lights, and cardboard except through the scheduled Move In/Move Out service.

Several of those have their own guides, because they are routed differently from the curb:

• Tires and automotive items — see Los Angeles tire disposal.
• Fluorescent lights and electronics — see Los Angeles e-waste disposal.
• Bulky non-appliance items like sofas and mattresses that do qualify for pickup — see Los Angeles furniture disposal.

Paints, solvents, oils and similar chemicals have a correct destination elsewhere: a S.A.F.E. Center (Solvents/Automotive/Flammables/Electronics), free to City of LA and LA County residents. A whole appliance does not belong at a S.A.F.E. Center — those sites take hazardous materials, not appliances.

How to schedule pickup

Channels: the online Service Request Form on the LASAN bulky item pickup page; the MyLA311 mobile app or web portal; or the 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489.

Notice: request pickup at least one business day before your regular trash collection day. Collection happens on your normal trash day — there is no special second visit.

Itemized list: list every item specifically. LASAN drivers only collect items on the daily work order. Forget the dryer and the driver takes the washer and leaves the dryer, and you start over with a new request.

Different truck: metal appliances often need a different truck than regular collection. That is why the list matters — the right truck has to be routed with the right items, and it explains why an unlisted appliance at the curb isn't taken "by the regular guys."

Set the appliance out where your refuse is normally collected, after your request is confirmed. Timing can differ from your usual pickup because a separate truck may be making the run. Keep the confirmation — it is what lets you follow up if the pickup is missed.

For general City of Los Angeles information that isn't specific to a pickup request, the citywide line is 311 (or 213-473-3231).

Comparing your routes

The table deliberately has no dollar amounts. Official sources confirm curbside appliance pickup is free and that the Multi-Family Bulky Item Fee exists, but no fee rates or rebate amounts are published in the source material. Where a number isn't sourced, treat it as unknown and confirm it directly.

Free monthly drop-off events

LASAN runs a free monthly bulky item drop-off event at five locations, on scheduled Saturdays, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

2026 dates: January 10 · February 14 · March 14 · April 11 · May 9 · June 13 · July 11 · August 8 · September 19 · October 10 · November 21 · December 12

Locations: East Valley, 11050 Pendelton St., Sun Valley 91352 · West Valley, 8840 Vanalden Ave., Northridge 91234 · Harbor, 1400 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro 90731 · West LA, 2027 Stoner Ave., Los Angeles 90025 · Central LA, 2201 E. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles 90021

Caution. The dates and locations are official, but the confirmed event item list covers furniture, carpet, yard trimmings, shelving and wood. Appliance acceptance at these events is not explicitly confirmed. Do not drive a refrigerator across the city assuming it will be taken. Schedule appliances for curbside Metal Appliance Pickup instead, and take other bulky items to the event if you want to use both.

Refrigerator and freezer prep: doors and refrigerants

A refrigerator or freezer causes trouble for two separate reasons.

Door safety. Remove the doors before placing the unit at the curb, or safely secure them shut with rope or duct tape, as the MyLA311 FAQ allows. Either way, an abandoned unit with a working latch is an entrapment hazard for children and animals — a safety rule, not a formality.

Refrigerants. Refrigerant removal is not a resident job, and California law backs that up. Major appliances contain materials that require special handling — including CFCs, HCFCs and non-CFC replacement refrigerants — under Public Resources Code 42167. Those materials must be removed by a DTSC Certified Appliance Recycler before the appliance is crushed, baled, shredded or processed for scrap, under Health & Safety Code 25211–25214. Refrigerant-only removal requires an EPA Section 608 certified technician. DTSC documentation travels with the unit to the scrap processor, and DTSC guidance also lists used oil, ammonia-alternative refrigerants, PCBs and mercury as special-handling materials found in major appliances.

In practice: don't cut refrigerant lines or try to recover or vent refrigerant yourself — venting is unsafe and regulated. Do prep the doors; that part is yours. Do leave the sealed cooling system alone — LASAN accepts refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners through its free appliance pickup, and the certified recycling chain handles refrigerant downstream. You don't need to solve the refrigerant question to use the free route.

Apartments, renters, and buildings of five or more units

Multi-family housing changes who you call, not whether you qualify.

Buildings with five or more units. LASAN collects bulky items — including appliances — from residents of buildings with five or more units by appointment through the Customer Care Center, with an itemized list, at 1-800-773-2489. The same free service exists; the entry point is an appointment rather than standard curbside scheduling.

The Multi-Family Bulky Item Fee. In buildings of five or more units whose hauling comes from a recycLA Franchise Hauler — meaning trash fees are not paid directly to LA Sanitation — the property pays a Multi-Family Bulky Item Fee that appears on the LADWP bill. Rates increased effective November 2025 under a City Council ordinance, and the fee funds unlimited on-demand bulky pickup for those buildings. Official material also describes relief: a low-income discount of roughly 31.25%, and a possible 100% exemption for customers enrolled in Lifeline/EZ-SAVE. No rate table was available, so no dollar figure is printed here. For what your building pays, contact LADWP at 1-800-342-5397 or email the address on the city's Multi-Family Bulky Item Fee page.

Who schedules it. In a 5+ unit building the practical answer is often "not you." Management frequently controls set-out logistics and the hauler relationship. Ask how appliances are removed from your building and whether to schedule with LASAN or leave it to them — that one conversation prevents a fridge sitting in a hallway for a week.

Bin context. Multi-family properties receive 60-gallon black refuse and 90-gallon blue recycling bins per unit, plus one shared 90-gallon green organics bin. If the building is serviced by a recycLA Service Provider, bin sizes are set by the owner or manager — which tells you something useful: in a recycLA building, the waste setup is a management decision, and so is bulky pickup.

Renter warning. Utility conservation and rebate programs generally require the account holder or owner authorization. If you rent and the utility account is in the landlord's name, you may not be able to book one yourself even though you live there. Confirm eligibility and authorization before promising a unit to anyone.

Commercial appliances in apartments. Common-area or commercial-grade equipment is prohibited from curbside collection — a private arrangement and a management conversation, not a resident one.

The LADWP turn-in option — and its status caveat

LADWP has operated a refrigerator turn-in and recycling program known as RETIRE. Structurally, LADWP residential electric customers with a working, regularly sized household refrigerator or freezer could schedule a free pickup through the utility's recycling partner, with the unit plugged in at collection, a rebate processed weeks later, and a limit of two units per household per year.

The caveat matters more than the structure. The official LADWP page indicates the program was closed for redesign with a planned relaunch, and current availability was unverified as of the date the sources were last checked. No rebate amount is quoted here, because neither the amount nor the status could be confirmed as current.

If you have a working second refrigerator or freezer, check the LADWP program page or call 1-800-342-5397 before planning around it. An old program page or newsletter mention is not proof the program is open now. And for a unit that is not working, the rebate route is not the answer anyway — those programs require a unit that still cools. A dead refrigerator is a curbside Metal Appliance Pickup item.

For a wider list of large-appliance pickup and recycling programs in the county, 211 LA maintains a referral directory; verify any program's current terms on the operator's own page before you rely on it.

Donation, retailer haul-away, and specialty options

Donation. If the appliance still works, donation is a reasonable first thought — a working washer is worth more to a neighbor than as scrap. But donation logistics for large appliances are not documented in the official sources here, and many organizations won't take large appliances or pick them up. Call first: confirm the organization accepts the exact item and can move it before you promise it away.

Retailer haul-away. Convenient when tied to a delivery — the old unit leaves when the new one arrives. Two limits: haul-away fees and eligibility terms vary and could not be confirmed, so ask for current terms on your item; and in-store retailer recycling generally covers electronics, not large appliances. Don't expect to wheel a refrigerator into a store's recycling counter. (Best Buy's TV and appliance haul-away and recycling FAQ pages are the place to check current terms.)

Private junk removal. For what the city service cannot cover: commercial appliances, common-area commercial-grade equipment, tight deadlines, or items that can't go to the curb. Pricing is market rate with no verified figures available, so get more than one quote. Ask how the hauler handles refrigerant and whether they use certified recycling — the legal responsibility doesn't disappear because you paid someone.

S.A.F.E. Centers. Free for City of LA and LA County residents; they take paints, solvents, oils and similar hazardous materials — the chemicals around an appliance project, not the appliance.

Item prep checklist

1. Confirm the item is accepted. Household refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, dishwasher, air conditioner, or water heater/standard heater — yes. Commercial-grade equipment — no.
2. Build your itemized list before you schedule.
3. Schedule at least one business day before your trash day — online form, MyLA311, or 1-800-773-2489.
4. Empty the appliance. No food, no water, nothing loose inside.
5. Prep the doors on any refrigerator or freezer — remove them, or secure them with rope or duct tape.
6. Don't tamper with the cooling system. No cutting lines, no venting.
7. Move the unit to your normal collection point and keep your confirmation.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Believing there is an item cap. The official service is described as free and unlimited at no additional charge.
2. Assuming a "Los Angeles" address means City of LA service. Neighboring and unincorporated areas run their own programs.
3. Leaving items off the work order. Drivers collect only what was listed.
4. Scheduling too late. You need at least one business day's notice.
5. Setting out a fridge with the doors still latched. Remove or secure them first.
6. Cutting refrigerant lines or attempting refrigerant removal. California requires a certified recycler or EPA Section 608 technician.
7. Routing a commercial appliance to the curb. It is officially prohibited and will be refused.
8. Hauling an appliance to a monthly drop-off event. Appliance acceptance there is not confirmed.
9. Putting paint, oil, solvents or chemicals at the curb. Take them to a S.A.F.E. Center.
10. Planning around an unverified rebate, or booking a utility program from a rental you don't hold the account for. Confirm terms and authorization first.

Official verification checklist

1. Confirm you are in the LASAN curbside service area via the official bulky item pickup page or 1-800-773-2489.
2. Confirm your regular trash collection day — pickup lands on it, and you must request at least one business day ahead.
3. Confirm your appliance is accepted and is not a commercial appliance.
4. Build the itemized list before scheduling.
5. Schedule through the online Service Request Form, MyLA311, or 1-800-773-2489, and keep the confirmation.
6. Prep the doors on any refrigerator or freezer.
7. In a building of five or more units, confirm with management whether LASAN or a recycLA franchise hauler handles pickup, and whether the Multi-Family Bulky Item Fee applies.
8. Ask LADWP (1-800-342-5397) about the low-income discount or Lifeline/EZ-SAVE exemption if you think it applies.
9. Re-verify any rebate or haul-away program on the official page before relying on it.
10. Route paints, solvents and oils to a S.A.F.E. Center instead of the curb.

Frequently asked questions

Does Los Angeles charge for appliance pickup? No. LASAN's curbside bulky item service and the Metal Appliance Pickup service are documented as free at no extra charge for residents with LASAN curbside collection. Private haulers and some retailers charge their own rates.

Is there a limit on how many items I can put out? The official service page describes curbside bulky collection as free and unlimited at no additional charge, with no per-quarter or per-year cap.

How far in advance do I schedule? At least one business day before your regular trash collection day. Collection happens on your normal trash day, often with a different truck.

Who removes the Freon? Not you. California requires refrigerants in major appliances to be removed by a DTSC Certified Appliance Recycler before scrap processing, and refrigerant-only removal needs an EPA Section 608 technician. LASAN accepts refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners through its free pickup, and certified recycling handles the refrigerant. Do not cut lines or vent refrigerant.

I live in an apartment. Can I schedule pickup myself? In a building with fewer than five units, use the standard channels. In a building of five or more units, collection runs through appointment-based multi-family service at 1-800-773-2489 — and check with management first, because they often coordinate it for the property.

Am I being charged for this on my LADWP bill? Possibly, but not as a pickup fee. Buildings of five or more units whose hauling comes from a recycLA Franchise Hauler pay a Multi-Family Bulky Item Fee on LADWP bills, which funds unlimited on-demand bulky pickup. Buildings paying LA Sanitation directly for trash service are not in that situation.

Can I take my appliance to a monthly drop-off event? Don't plan on it. The locations and 2026 dates are official, but appliance acceptance at those events is not confirmed. Use scheduled curbside Metal Appliance Pickup.

Is there a rebate for turning in a working refrigerator? LADWP's turn-in program is described on its own page as closed for redesign, and its current status was unverified when these sources were checked. Confirm the program is active, and confirm the terms, on the LADWP page or at 1-800-342-5397 before you count on any incentive. Utility programs of this kind generally also require the account holder or owner authorization.

Sources

1. LA Sanitation & Environment — Schedule a Bulky Item Pickup: https://sanitation.lacity.gov/services/schedule-bulky-item-pickup
2. LA Sanitation & Environment — Metal Appliance Pickup: https://sanitation.lacity.gov/services/metal-appliance-pickup
3. MyLA311 — Household Appliance Pick-Up (White Goods) FAQ: https://myla311.lacity.gov/s/faq/Household-Appliance-Pick-Up-White-Goods
4. LA Sanitation — Bulky Item Collection (multi-family): https://lacitysan.org/bulky
5. LA Sanitation & Environment — Multi-Family Bulky Item Fee: https://sanitation.lacity.gov/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-au/s-lsh-au-r/s-lsh-au-r-mfbif
6. City of Los Angeles — Free Bulky Item Drop Off for Residents: https://lacity.gov/news/free-bulky-item-drop-residents
7. California DTSC — Certified Appliance Recycler (CAR) Program: https://dtsc.ca.gov/certified-appliance-recycler-car-program/
8. California DTSC — Guidance on Major Appliances for Scrap Metal Recyclers: https://dtsc.ca.gov/guidance-on-major-appliances-for-scrap-metal-recyclers/
9. LADWP — Refrigerator Recycling (RETIRE) program page: https://www.ladwp.com/es/servicios-residenciales/programas-y-reembolsos-residenciales/programa-de-reciclaje-de-refrigeradores
10. LADWP — Retire Your 'Fridge (customer newsletter): https://www.ladwp.com/newsletters/articles/retire-your-fridge
11. 211 LA — Large Appliance Pickup/Recycling Programs (referral listing): https://211la.org/services/Hx3QG0DVNIWmjD5NF1WDz4Qcwl6OWn/large-appliance-pickuprecycling-programs
12. Best Buy — TV & Appliance Haul-away (terms unverified): https://www.bestbuy.com/site/recycling/tv-appliances-haul-away/pcmcat174900050009.c?id=pcmcat174900050009
13. Best Buy — Electronics and Appliances Recycling FAQ: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/recycling/recycle-faqs/pcmcat174700050009.c?id=pcmcat174700050009

Official city and state pages are the final authority on curbside rules, eligibility and scheduling. This guide covers the City of Los Angeles and the LASAN curbside service area only — neighboring cities and unincorporated county areas run their own programs, and building management or a recycLA franchise hauler may control set-out logistics in multi-family properties. Program terms, drop-off dates and rebate availability change — confirm current details on the live official pages before you act, and call the LASAN 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489 if your situation does not match the routes described here.