San Diego Appliance Disposal: No Curbside Pickup

Item: Major household appliances — refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, stoves, ovens, microwaves, washers, dryers, water heaters, dishwashers, trash compactors Jurisdiction: City of San Diego, California — Environmental Services Department (ESD) service area only Official sources: City of San Diego Environmental Services Department, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Public Resources Code 42170, US EPA Section 608 Last verified: September 2026 · Next review: December 2026

Quick answer

If you live in the City of San Diego, no City crew will collect an appliance from your curb. The City has no bulky-item or appliance pickup program — the planned one was de-funded and deferred, and it is paused until further notice. Appliances may never go in a City trash, recycling or organics bin.

The working route is self-haul to the Miramar Recycling Center, 5165 Convoy St., San Diego 92111, north of SR-52. It is open Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and closed New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The phone number is 858-268-8971.

Published fees are $25 each for refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and other appliances containing CFCs/refrigerant, and $12 each for large household appliances such as stoves, washers, dryers and hot water heaters. Those are the only appliance categories the published table names — for a microwave, dishwasher, trash compactor or dehumidifier, call 858-268-8971 before you load.

Take the appliance to the Recycling Center, not the landfill tipping deck: landfill rules require appliances to be properly disposed of before a load enters. If the unit still works, donate it first — ESD helps find a charity or thrift store at 858-694-7000. Never cut refrigerant lines or vent the unit yourself.

Quick facts

Why the City of San Diego will not pick up your appliance

This is the single most important correction in this guide, because a lot of third-party content describes a service that does not exist here.

On June 8, 2026, the City Council removed the collection of revenue "set to cover the costs of new weekly recycling and bulky item pickup programs." With that fee reduction, "these programs are now deferred through FY2029." A separate City page states the City is "deferring the previously planned service upgrades of weekly recycling collection and bulky item pickup, pausing them until further notice," while "Regular trash, recycling and organics pickup continues as normal."

The City's mattress recycling page says it outright: "Please note that the City of San Diego does not provide bulky item pickup or curbside pick-up services."

The bin rule closes the other door. The General Refuse page's "What Can NEVER Go in Any Bin" list includes "Furniture, appliances or auto parts (water heaters, major appliances, couches/chairs, car bumpers, fenders, engine blocks, batteries, items over 50 pounds)." A refrigerator left beside your gray, blue or green bin will not be collected, and a load can be refused.

So any page promising a free annual bulky pickup or a per-item curbside appliance fee for San Diego is contradicting the City's own published pages. There is nothing to schedule, and no fee to pay, because the program does not exist.

First, check that you are in the City of San Diego service area

Confirm this before anything else. City collection covers single-family homes and multi-family properties with up to four residences on a lot — roughly 225,000 eligible residential customers. If your address is not found in the City's collection-schedule lookup, the City says it is "likely serviced by a private hauler."

Two property types sit outside City service even with a San Diego mailing address:

• Single-family homes and condominiums on private streets.
• Multi-family properties with more than four residences.

Both must pay a private company, using one City franchise hauler from the City's published directory.

A "San Diego, CA" postal address does not by itself mean City of San Diego service. Outside city limits — unincorporated San Diego County, or Coronado, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Oceanside, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach or Vista — contact that jurisdiction directly. The Miramar gate is the same physical site for everyone, but eligibility, price and available alternatives differ by jurisdiction, so a rule that applies in one city may not apply in yours.

The main route: Miramar Recycling Center drop-off

For almost every City of San Diego household appliance, this is the answer.

Location: 5165 Convoy St., San Diego 92111, north of SR-52. Hours: Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Closed New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Phone: 858-268-8971. No appointment is needed.

Published appliance fees:

• $25 each — refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and other appliances containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• $12 each — large household appliances: stoves, washers, dryers, hot water heaters.

What the table does not name. Microwaves, dishwashers, trash compactors and dehumidifiers are not individually priced, so neither the $12 nor the $25 rate can be assumed for them. Call 858-268-8971 with your exact appliance and appliance size before you load a vehicle.

Do not confuse this with the "Donation Only" area. That is a separate list of items that are free to drop and pay the customer nothing: TVs, computer monitors, laptops, CPUs, non-CRV containers, non-CRV steel cans, ferrous metals such as barbecues and wrought iron, mixed paper, and up to 30 quarts of used residential cooking oil. The City does not pay you for an appliance — the $25 and $12 fees are charges you pay, not money you receive.

If you are not a City resident. The Recycling Center page states no residency requirement, while the landfill publishes higher Non-City Waste rates. Whether a non-City resident is refused at the Recycling Center or charged differently is not stated on the official page — call first rather than assuming either way.

The alternate paid route: Miramar Landfill self-haul

Miramar Landfill and Recycling Center, 5180 Convoy St., is the City's only active landfill: Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–4 p.m., with self-dumping vehicles accepted until 4:30 p.m., closed Sundays and the same six holidays.

Charges here are by vehicle tier, not per appliance. The FY2027 schedule (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) sets the Tier 1 flat rate — cars, sedans, station wagons, crossovers, SUVs, minivans, pickups, vans and trailers up to 5'W x 9'L x 4'H — at $75 City Waste / $86 Non-City Waste per load, including a $15 recycling fee and an $8 Refuse Collector Business Tax or franchise fee as applicable. All loads must be covered, and the uncovered-load fee is $50. There are no hand unloads after 4 p.m., and no cash — pay by check to City Treasurer (preferred), Visa/MasterCard, or a Deferred Payment Account.

The catch is on the landfill's own fee page: "All CRTs, TVs, appliances, universal waste, electronic waste, and household hazardous materials must be properly disposed of before entering the landfill." The appliance has to leave your load and go to the Recycling Center. This route suits mixed loads with the appliance already separated out — it is not an appliance route.

Which appliance disposal route should you use?

Table note: the City's fee table names only CFC/refrigerant appliances and large household appliances. Microwaves, dishwashers, trash compactors and dehumidifiers need a phone confirmation before you drive. Cleanup events have existed historically, but no current schedule, eligibility rule or appliance acceptance could be verified — ask ESD rather than planning around a date.

Prep it right: loading, securing and paying at Miramar

• Never put the appliance in a bin. It is on the City's "never in any bin" list, and items over 50 pounds are prohibited in containers.
• Take it to the Recycling Center, not the landfill deck. Landfill rules require appliances to be disposed of before a load enters.
• Cover the load in transit. The uncovered-load fee is $50.
• Empty and disconnect first. Remove food and water, and have the unit disconnected and ready to move before any hauler or retailer collects it.
• Donate a working unit first. ESD will help at 858-694-7000.
• Confirm the fee for any appliance the published table does not name at 858-268-8971.
• Bring the right payment — a check to City Treasurer or a Visa/MasterCard. Cash is no longer accepted.
• Time the trip. The Recycling Center closes at 4:30 p.m., and there are no hand unloads after 4 p.m. at the landfill.

Safety and the law: refrigerant, hazardous parts and why this is not DIY

California's Metallic Discards law, Public Resources Code section 42170, provides that after January 1, 1994 no solid waste facility shall accept for disposal any major appliance, vehicle or other metallic discard containing enough metal to be economically feasible to salvage. It also bars any person from placing a major appliance or other metallic discard in mixed municipal solid waste — the material must go to reuse, recycling or salvage.

That is why appliances have a processor route rather than a landfill route. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control's Certified Appliance Recycler program certifies facilities that remove materials requiring special handling — refrigerants, used oil, mercury switches, PCBs and capacitors — before a unit is crushed, baled, shredded or processed. EPA Section 608 consumer guidance adds that older refrigerated appliances may contain CFCs or HCFCs, mercury switches, contaminated oils and PCBs.

In practice:

• Do not cut refrigerant lines, vent refrigerant, or open the sealed system at home. Refrigerant recovery belongs to a certified processor. No City of San Diego rule asks you to recover it yourself, and no certificate or tag is required from you before self-hauling — the duty sits downstream with the processing facility.
• Do not take the appliance to the Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility. It takes labeled hazardous products only, by appointment, from City of San Diego residents.
• Secure the door as a safety habit. Removing or securing refrigerator and freezer doors before the unit leaves your control prevents entrapment. That is general prudence, not a rule quoted from a City of San Diego appliance page — the City publishes no resident door-removal requirement.
• Mind the weight. Appliances are heavy and awkward — use a dolly, strap the load, and get help.

California's "major appliance" definition is broad: washing machine, clothes dryer, hot water heater, dehumidifier, conventional oven, microwave oven, stove, refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner, trash compactor and residential furnace.

What will not work: bins, hazardous waste and promised events

Three routes get suggested to San Diego readers that do not apply here.

The bin. A whole appliance never goes in a City trash, recycling or organics container. Items over 50 pounds are prohibited in containers, and collection crews will not take it. Leaving it out anyway risks a refused load.

The Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility. Appliances are not household hazardous waste. The HHW Transfer Facility at the Miramar Landfill entrance, 5161 Convoy St., is free, appointment-only, and open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. It takes labeled hazardous products — paint, cleaners, motor oil, batteries, pesticides, mercury devices. It is restricted to City of San Diego residents, who must show proof of City residency plus photo ID or a recent bill showing name and address; appointments are booked through the City's Get It Done system. Non-City residents are directed to call 877-713-2784 or their own city. Bringing a refrigerator there is a wasted trip.

A community cleanup or recycling event. Events like this have existed, and the City has described such events as opportunities to dispose of unwanted bulky items. But no current schedule, eligibility rule or accepted-item list could be verified, so do not plan around a date and do not assume an appliance would be accepted. Ask ESD at 858-694-7000 instead.

One more caution: the older City appliance-recycling page no longer loads. The durable, citable legal basis for how appliances must be handled is California PRC 42170, not a cached copy of a dead page — and no listing will pay you for an appliance dropped at the "Donation Only" area.

Other discarded household items follow different routes from an appliance: see San Diego mattress disposal, San Diego e-waste disposal, and San Diego tire disposal for those.

Apartments, renters and buildings over four residences

City-serviced properties (up to four residences on a lot) follow the same City rules, but the program operates at the property level — coordinate with your landlord, owner or property manager.

Buildings with more than four residences, private-street homes, condos on private streets and gated communities are served by a private franchise hauler, not the City. The owner or manager arranges collection, and any bulk-item pickup is that hauler's commercial service — verify availability, limits and price with the hauler directly.

• No City source grants renters a right to schedule a City bulky or appliance pickup, because no such program exists. If a leasing office tells you to call the City, ask instead which franchise hauler serves the building.
• City Solid Waste Management Fee financial assistance is for homeowners only: "Tenants are not eligible to apply."
• Renters who self-haul to Miramar pay the posted per-item fees — $25 for a refrigerant appliance, $12 for a large household appliance. No ownership requirement and no residency exemption is stated either way.
• Property managers should separate appliance loads — an appliance cannot enter the landfill inside a mixed load.

Donation, directories, retailer haul-away and franchise haulers

Donate first. The City's recycling FAQ answers "What should I do with my old household appliances?" by pointing to "several reputable companies in San Diego that will recycle your appliances for free or a nominal fee. Some offer a pickup service, and others offer drop-off sites around the County," and advises donating a working appliance to a local charity or thrift store. ESD helps find one at 858-694-7000.

WasteFreeSD.org is the regional directory the City directs residents to for locations that accept bulky items and appliances. Listings are third-party operators, not City-verified programs: call before hauling, ask what the site accepts now, and ask whether the operator is a certified appliance recycler.

Retailer haul-away is the lowest-effort option, but it exists only with a purchase. Lowe's advertises hauling away an old appliance for $50 when a new one is delivered, free for select MyLowe's Pro Rewards members. Best Buy advertises haul-away and recycling of one major appliance for $49.99 with delivery of a new replacement. Both figures can change, neither is a standalone pickup, and no official Home Depot amount could be verified — treat that one as unknown. No live electric-utility appliance rebate or bounty could be verified either, so do not count on one without checking the utility's own current page.

Franchise haulers serve businesses and privately-serviced residences, which must use one City franchise hauler from the published directory. The list changes, and any on-demand single-item pickup is a hauler's commercial service, not a City program.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Waiting for a City pickup that will never come. There is no bulky-item or appliance program to schedule.
2. Believing a "San Diego" address means City of San Diego service. Private streets, condos on private streets, gated communities and 5+ residence buildings are privately serviced.
3. Setting an appliance beside the bin. It is on the "never in any bin" list and will be left behind.
4. Driving the appliance to the landfill tipping deck. Appliances must be disposed of before a load enters.
5. Assuming the $12 or $25 rate covers every appliance. The published table names only CFC/refrigerant appliances and large household appliances — confirm the rest by phone.
6. Cutting refrigerant lines or venting the unit. Refrigerant recovery belongs to a certified processor.
7. Taking it to the Household Hazardous Waste facility. Those sites take labeled hazardous products, not appliances, and they are City-resident-only by appointment.
8. Planning around a community cleanup event. No current date, location or appliance acceptance is verifiable.
9. Coming with cash. Payment is by check to City Treasurer, Visa/MasterCard, or a Deferred Payment Account.
10. Loading an uncovered vehicle. The uncovered-load fee is $50.

Official verification checklist

1. Confirm jurisdiction — check your address in the City collection-schedule lookup; if it is not found, you are likely privately serviced.
2. Do not rely on a City pickup — no City crew will come to the curb for an appliance.
3. Call 858-268-8971 to confirm today's fee for your exact appliance, especially one the published table does not name.
4. Confirm hours — Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–4:30 p.m., closed the six City holidays.
5. Cover your load — the uncovered-load fee is $50.
6. Secure refrigerator and freezer doors before the unit leaves your control, and do not cut refrigerant lines or vent refrigerant.
7. Call 858-694-7000 if the appliance still works and you want help finding a charity or thrift store.
8. In a 5+ residence or private-street property, ask the owner or manager which franchise hauler serves the building and whether it does single-item pickups.
9. Re-verify retailer haul-away fees and any utility rebate on the retailer's or utility's current page before relying on a figure.
10. Keep hazardous products separate — they go to the appointment-only Household Hazardous Waste facility, City residents only.

Frequently asked questions

Will the City pick up my refrigerator or washer at the curb? No. The City states it "does not provide bulky item pickup or curbside pick-up services," and the planned program was de-funded and deferred through FY2029.

How much does it cost to drop off an appliance at Miramar? $25 each for CFC/refrigerant appliances and $12 each for large household appliances, per the published table. Anything the table does not name should be confirmed at 858-268-8971.

Can I put a small appliance in my regular trash? No. Appliances are on the "never in any bin" list, and items over 50 pounds are prohibited in containers.

Can I take it straight to the landfill? Not as an appliance load. Landfill rules require appliances to be properly disposed of before entering, which means the Recycling Center at 5165 Convoy St.

Do I have to remove the refrigerant before drop-off? No — and you must not attempt it. Refrigerant recovery is handled by the certified processing facility, not by the resident at the gate. No City rule requires a resident-side tag or certification.

What if I live outside San Diego city limits? Contact your own jurisdiction — unincorporated San Diego County, or your city among the separate cities listed above. County residents can call 877-713-2784 for household hazardous waste questions.

I rent an apartment in a 40-unit building. Who handles my old stove? Your building is almost certainly served by a private franchise hauler, not the City. The owner or manager arranges collection, and any single-item pickup is that hauler's commercial service — ask management which hauler serves the property and what it charges.

Will the City pay me for an appliance? No. Appliances are a paid drop-off at the Recycling Center. The "Donation Only" area is a separate list of items that are free to drop and pay the customer nothing.

Sources

1. City of San Diego — Collection Services (ESD hub): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/collection
2. City of San Diego — General Refuse Collection Information and Rules: https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/collection/general
3. City of San Diego — Miramar Recycling Center (fees, hours, phone): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/centers/miramarrecycle
4. City of San Diego — Miramar Landfill & Greenery: https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/miramar
5. City of San Diego — Refuse Disposal Fees (landfill rules, payment, uncovered-load fee): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/miramar/fees
6. City of San Diego — FY2027 Refuse Disposal Fee Schedule (PDF, effective July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027): https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/refuse-disposal-fees.pdf
7. City of San Diego — Solid Waste Fee Updates (deferral notice): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/solid-waste-fee-updates
8. City of San Diego — Measure B / Solid Waste Management Fee background (June 8, 2026 Council action; private-street and 5+ unit rule): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/trash-service-updates/measure-b
9. City of San Diego — Recycling Mattresses and Box Springs ("does not provide bulky item pickup or curbside pick-up services"): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/residential/mattresses
10. City of San Diego — Recycling FAQ (old appliance answer; donation advice): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/geninfo/faq/recycling
11. City of San Diego — City-Serviced Homes (WasteFreeSD referral): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/residential/curbside
12. City of San Diego — Residential Recycling (separate jurisdictions; private-hauler lookup note): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/residential
13. City of San Diego — Household Hazardous Waste (Transfer Facility rules): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/ep/hazardous
14. City of San Diego — Franchised Waste Hauler List (PDF): https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/esd-franchised-hauler-list.pdf
15. City of San Diego — Franchise Hauler Directory, businesses and privately-serviced residences (PDF): https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/business-multi-family-recycling.pdf
16. California Public Resources Code 42170, Metallic Discards (official code text): https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=2.&chapter=3.5.&division=30.&lawCode=PRC&part=3.&title=
17. California DTSC — Certified Appliance Recycler (CAR) Program: https://dtsc.ca.gov/certified-appliance-recycler-car-program
18. California DTSC — Guidance on Major Appliances for Scrap Metal Recyclers: https://dtsc.ca.gov/guidance-on-major-appliances-for-scrap-metal-recyclers
19. US EPA — Appliance Disposal (Section 608 consumer guidance): https://www.epa.gov/section608/appliance-disposal
20. WasteFreeSD — regional reuse, recycling and disposal directory: https://wastefreesd.org/
21. County of San Diego — Household Hazardous Waste collection facilities: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/recycling/hhw/chd_hhwfacilities.html
22. Lowe's — Truck Delivery and appliance haul-away (terms subject to change): https://www.lowes.com/l/help/truck-delivery
23. Best Buy — TV & Appliance Haul-away (terms subject to change): https://www.bestbuy.com/site/recycling/tv-appliances-haul-away/pcmcat174900050009.c
24. The Home Depot — Appliance Delivery & Installation (haul-away fee not verified): https://www.homedepot.com/c/Appliance_Delivery_Installation

Verify before you act. Fees, hours, holiday closures, program status and retailer terms change, and the bulky-item pickup program is officially "paused until further notice." Confirm with ESD Customer Service at 858-694-7000 (Monday–Friday, 6:30 a.m.–5 p.m.) or the Miramar Recycling Center at 858-268-8971 before you load a vehicle. This guide covers the City of San Diego ESD service area only — unincorporated San Diego County and every other city in the region run their own programs, and in buildings with more than four residences, on private streets, or in gated communities, the property owner or a private franchise hauler controls disposal logistics. The Miramar Landfill inclement-weather recording is 858-492-6100.