Appliance Disposal in Atlanta, GA: Scheduled Bulk Pickup

Item: Household appliances ("white goods") — refrigerators, freezers, stoves/ovens/ranges, washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, microwaves, wine coolers, humidifiers, and refrigerant units such as dehumidifiers and room/window AC units Jurisdiction: City of Atlanta Office of Solid Waste Services — city limits only (Fulton and DeKalb counties), single-family residential service Official sources: City of Atlanta Office of Solid Waste Services / Department of Public Works, ATL311, Live Thrive CHaRM, U.S. EPA, Georgia EPD, Fulton County, Best Buy Last verified: September 2026 · Next review: December 2026

Quick answer

In the City of Atlanta, household appliances are approved bulk items. The city's bulk list names dryers, refrigerators, stoves and washers as examples, and the Office of Solid Waste Services calls household bulk waste large items or "white goods (appliances)."

Bulk is a scheduled service for single-family residential customers — not an automatic curb set-out. Request it at least one business day in advance through the Solid Waste Services Collection Tool at atlantaga.gov/solidwaste or ATL311 at (404) 546-0311, and since February 16, 2026 the pickup lands on your regular weekly collection day. Put the appliance at the front curb no earlier than 7 p.m. the day before.

Cost is a yearly allowance, not a per-appliance price: single-family residents get 12 scheduled bulk collections per year, and the 13th and later collection costs $343.10 per truck-capacity load in FY2026 (Municipal Code 130-84). It is free only within the 12.

Verify two things first: that your address is inside the city limits on single-family city service (Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, Decatur and unincorporated Fulton or DeKalb are not), and that the current rules and your collection day still match this page. Call ATL311 at (404) 546-0311.

The paid alternative is a self-haul to CHaRM (Live Thrive) — major appliances by appointment, $15–$20 each. Atlanta has no household hazardous waste program and points residents to CHaRM, and no city rule requires removing appliance doors or certifying refrigerant. That requirement is federal only.

Quick facts

Which appliances qualify — and what does not

The approved bulk list also covers barbecue grills, carpet, flat glass (securely wrapped or taped), household furniture, mattresses and box springs, railroad ties cut to four feet or less, and yard waste up to 8 cubic yards. Appliances sit inside that list, and the Office of Solid Waste Services widens the definition to "white goods."

Stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, microwaves, wine coolers and humidifiers are exactly what this route is built for. Refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers and room AC units qualify too — they just carry the federal refrigerant step described below.

Not accepted: electronics (computers, printers, televisions), explosives or ammunition, household hazardous waste (oils, fuels, paints, solvents), contractor-generated materials, metal drums and pressurized gas cylinders. In plain terms, an appliance is allowed; a TV or computer is not, even though both look equally large on a curb. Appliances are also not household hazardous waste, which is why they run through bulk and not a chemical program.

Two nearby items are unconfirmed. The bulk hub lists tires (up to four) as approved, while the Office of Solid Waste Services page and the ATL311 bulk article both say the city will not collect auto parts including tires. The hub also lists "building materials exceeding four (4) cubic yards" under both approved and not-accepted materials. Treat both as unresolved and ask ATL311 before you put either at the curb.

Related items routed differently in Atlanta: furniture disposal, mattress disposal, electronic waste disposal, paint disposal and tire disposal.

Are you eligible? City limits and single-family service

This covers City of Atlanta Solid Waste Services customers inside the city limits, in Fulton and DeKalb counties, on single-family residential service. The bulk hub states that bulk is "not available for debris from business operations, manufacturing, new construction, demolition, or materials from rental properties," and it is prohibited for evictions, vacant properties and items left by contractors. The city says it serves more than 100,000 residential households.

Outside the city limits you are not a City of Atlanta customer and cannot use this program. Fulton County points those residents to CHaRM (1110 Hill Street, Atlanta 30315, 404-600-6386), the Merk Miles Convenience Center (3225 Merk Rd SW, College Park 30349, (470) 552-4311) and the county's annual Household Hazardous Waste pollution prevention days. Fulton County's general line is (404) 612-4000. Check your own city's or county's rules rather than assuming Atlanta's apply.

How to schedule a bulk appliance pickup

1. Confirm your collection day and set reminders with the Collection Tool. Since February 16, 2026, bulk runs on your regular weekly collection day.
2. Request the pickup at least one business day ahead via the Collection Tool, or ATL311 — 3-1-1 / (404) 546-0311, atl311@atlantaga.gov, or @ATL311. ATL311 office hours are Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–midnight.
3. Schedule it as the resident. ATL311 is explicit: "Bulk collections can only be scheduled by the resident of the reported location." If the property is not in your name, read the renter section below first.
4. Keep the confirmation — an email with the scheduled collection day is sent if you provide an email address.
5. Townhome residents with curbside service should put their gate code in the Comments section of the Collection Tool.

There is no fixed citywide pickup day, so do not plan around one. Your day is address-specific, which is why the Collection Tool exists.

The 12-collections-a-year rule and the $343.10 charge

ATL311 states that the Department of Public Works provides single-family residents 12 free scheduled bulk pick-up collections per year. No per-item city fee is published for the appliance itself.

The rate schedule lists the charge for exceeding the allowance — BULK WASTE, per address for one truck-capacity load, fee accessed after 12 calls per year: FY2025 $336.38, FY2026 $343.10, FY2027 $349.96 (Code 130-84). Use $343.10 as the current, FY2026 figure.

One rule catches people out: schedule a collection and fail to set the items out as required, and it still counts against your 12. The city also treats anything beyond 8 cubic yards ("the size of a small room of furniture," per the Office of Solid Waste Services page) as an additional bulk collection, which can consume another of your 12.

For context, the annual residential solid waste charge is $432.26 for FY2026, with recycling a separate line at $126.87, billed on the city's behalf by the Fulton County Tax Commissioner, (404) 613-6100, or the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner, (404) 371-2886. Call them about the bill, not about the pickup. Billing disputes follow Code Sec. 130-85(b) through the DPW Solid Waste Dispute Form and DPWSolidWasteBilling@atlantaga.gov, with appeals due within 7 business days to the Solid Waste Appeals Board.

Set-out timing, placement, and cancellation

• Not before 7:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled collection. Earlier set-out may draw a citation.
• Front of the property, curbside. The city states it is mandatory that bulk items are left curbside in the front of the property — not in an alley, side yard, street or sidewalk.
• At least six (6) feet from garbage and recycling carts and from yard trimmings, so neither service is delayed.
• Stay clear of mailboxes, fences, meters, fire hydrants, parked cars, wires and powerlines; never block a sidewalk or street.
• Separate bulky yard trimmings into their own pile.
• Cancel by 3 p.m. the day before. A missed scheduled pickup must be reported within two business days, or it has to be rescheduled.

Under Municipal Code 130-40, a first occurrence can bring a Notice of Violation requiring the owner to remove or properly prepare the materials at their own expense, and continued noncompliance can bring a citation and penalties of up to $1,000 per offense. Early set-out, placement in the street or right-of-way, and mixing excluded material into a pile are the practical triggers.

Refrigerators, freezers, room AC and dehumidifiers: the refrigerant rule

The only refrigerant requirement is federal: EPA Clean Air Act Section 608 (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F) covers equipment that typically enters the waste stream with its charge intact — household refrigerators and freezers and window unit air conditioners.

• The final person in the disposal chain (a scrap metal recycler or landfill owner) must ensure refrigerant is recovered before final disposal.
• If they accept a unit that no longer holds a charge, they must keep a signed statement from the person who recovered it (name, address, date) or a contract.
• EPA does not mandate or accept a sticker as verification.
• Individuals recovering refrigerant from small appliances while preparing them for disposal are not required to be certified technicians, but the recovery equipment must meet servicing performance standards.

Note what is not there: no City of Atlanta source imposes a door-removal rule, a refrigerant tag, a certification step or a removal fee for white goods. If another city's guide says Atlanta requires appliance doors removed before set-out, that is wrong for Atlanta. Door removal is still worth doing as safety advice — an abandoned unit is a child-entrapment hazard — but it is advice, not a rule.

Never vent refrigerant. If someone claims it is already gone, ask for the documentation the federal rule requires, and ask the receiving facility what paperwork it wants; no official source publishes a removal price. Also note that no official Atlanta source says appliances collected through scheduled bulk are recycled — assume disposal unless the receiving facility says otherwise.

The drop-off route: CHaRM (Live Thrive)

CHaRM (Live Thrive) is the city's designated recycling partner and the practical route when curbside bulk does not apply or you need something gone sooner. The city has no household hazardous waste collection program and directs residents to CHaRM instead.

CHaRM accepts large or major appliances — washers, dryers, stoves, ovens, water heaters, refrigerators, wine coolers, humidifiers and dehumidifiers — at $15–$20 each for residents and businesses. Appointments are required (book through the Live Thrive CHaRM app or web version; QR code check-in).

Published 2026 closure dates include Sept 5, Oct 22, Nov 25 (early close), Nov 26–28, Dec 24–28, Dec 31 and Jan 1. Check before driving: the site cautions that only items listed on its website are accepted at either location. A CHaRM trip does not consume one of your 12 bulk collections, which makes it the sensible choice when you have a busy allowance year.

Buying new: retailer haul-away — and the utility route that closed

Retailer haul-away (Best Buy, from the retailer's own page): $49.99 to haul away and recycle one major appliance when a new replacement is delivered — refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, ranges/stoves, dishwashers, microwaves, wall ovens, cooktops, ice makers and range hoods. The old unit must be free of personal belongings (including food, clothing and dishware), hazardous materials and infestations; some markets require a licensed professional for gas or LP connections; and if installation is not purchased, the appliance must be disconnected before haul-away. Best Buy also offers Standalone Haul-Away for $199.99 without a purchase, for up to 2 large products.

Home Depot and Lowe's also haul away on delivery day for a market-set fee, but their fees could not be confirmed on official pages. Treat them as "varies — confirm at checkout," never as a fixed Atlanta price.

Georgia Power's Refrigerator Recycling+ should be treated as closed. It historically offered free in-home pickup of a working secondary refrigerator or freezer (10–30 cubic feet) plus dehumidifiers and room AC units, with rebates for owners of an owner-occupied home, condo or townhome. The utility's live page states the program "will conclude at the end of this year," asked for pickups by Dec 1, 2025, and says it "will not be renewed in 2026." Do not plan around it, and do not treat rebate figures quoted elsewhere as current — published figures conflict. Call 1-866-446-9250 for certainty.

Private haulers and scrap yards serve metro Atlanta and are a legitimate paid option, but no prices appear here because none were verified. Get quotes directly, and expect a refrigerant unit to need documentation before acceptance.

Georgia has no statewide appliance landfill ban and no appliance recycling program — state disposal prohibitions cover lead acid batteries, liquid waste, regulated hazardous waste, radioactive waste and PCBs, not household appliances. The Georgia EPD solid waste program (Land Protection Branch, 4244 International Parkway, Suite 104, Atlanta, GA 30354) administers the general rules.

Apartments, renters, and buildings of six or more units

Buildings of six or more living units. Under Code Sec. 130-38, owners of multi-family dwellings (including public housing) with six or more units, and condo or townhouse associations of six or more units, must furnish commercial containers and arrange their own private hauler. The city states that recycling service to multi-family properties is not provided by the City of Atlanta at this time, and bulk does not reach those buildings. Ask your property manager which hauler serves the building and whether it arranges appliance removal when units are replaced — that arrangement, not the city, governs disposal. There is no city in-home removal from an upper-floor apartment.

Renters in a house or a smaller building. The official sources conflict. The bulk hub excludes "materials from rental properties" while describing bulk as a single-family service, and ATL311 says only "the resident of the reported location" may schedule. No official source explains whether a renter in a single-family house, a duplex or a 1–4 unit building may schedule bulk in their own name. Do not assume either way — call ATL311 at (404) 546-0311 and, if the property is not in your name, ask the landlord or property manager how they handle it.

The federal refrigerant requirement applies regardless of tenure, and CHaRM is open to residents whatever the housing type if you can transport the unit.

Never leave an appliance beside an apartment dumpster, in a commercial bin, in an alley or on a vacant lot — refrigeration units are not accepted in normal commercial waste, and the city enforces illegal dumping through its Solid Waste Education & Enforcement Team. Report dumping via atl311.com or (404) 546-0311; the city notes a reward of up to $2,000 for a tip leading to an arrest.

Comparing your routes

Item prep and set-out checklist

1. Confirm eligibility — inside the city limits, single-family service, not rental-excluded debris.
2. Confirm your collection day and set reminders with the Collection Tool.
3. Schedule at least one business day ahead, and keep the confirmation email.
4. Check how many of your 12 collections you have used — the 13th and later costs $343.10.
5. Keep the load within 8 cubic yards; beyond that counts as an extra collection.
6. Empty the appliance of food, dishware and belongings.
7. For a refrigerator or freezer, remove or secure the doors as safety advice, not because a rule requires it.
8. Arrange refrigerant recovery for a fridge, freezer, room AC or dehumidifier. Never vent refrigerant.
9. Set out no earlier than 7 p.m. the day before, front of the property, 6 feet from carts.
10. Keep the pile pure — no electronics, paints, oils, fuels, solvents, drums or cylinders.
11. Cancel by 3 p.m. the day before; report a missed pickup within two business days.

Safety warnings

• Never vent refrigerant. Federal law requires recovery before final disposal, and EPA does not accept a sticker as proof.
• Refrigerator and freezer doors are a child-entrapment hazard. Remove or secure them before the unit sits out or is stored.
• Large appliances are heavy and awkward — use a two-person lift or a dolly with the path cleared.
• Keep the curb clear of hydrants, meters, parked cars, sidewalks and walkways.
• Never put an appliance in the trash cart or mix excluded materials into a bulk pile — penalties can reach $1,000 per offense.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Setting an appliance out with the trash and expecting pickup — bulk must be scheduled.
2. Setting it out before 7 p.m. the day before, or placing it anywhere but the front curb.
3. Calling the pickup simply "free" without the 12-collection qualification.
4. Scheduling and not setting items out — it still counts against your 12.
5. Acting on a claimed city "remove doors" or "certify refrigerant" rule. No such city rule exists.
6. Assuming a curbside appliance is definitely recycled, or that tires are accepted with bulk.
7. Planning around Georgia Power's refrigerator recycling program, which is not renewed for 2026.
8. Leaving an appliance by a dumpster, in an alley or on a vacant lot — that is illegal dumping, and it is enforced.

Verify before you act

1. Confirm your address is inside the city limits on single-family service — not a neighboring city, unincorporated county, or a building of six or more units.
2. Confirm your collection day and current bulk rules through the Collection Tool or ATL311.
3. Confirm how many of your 12 annual collections you have used, and the current post-allowance fee.
4. Confirm the refrigerant question — the requirement is federal; no city prep, tag or certification rule is published.
5. Confirm the alternative before driving — CHaRM appointments and closures, or retailer terms at checkout.
6. If you rent, confirm who may schedule and who hauls with ATL311 and your property manager.

Frequently asked questions

Can Atlanta pick up my old stove, washer or water heater at the curb? Yes, for an eligible single-family household inside the city limits: appliances are approved bulk items, and bulk is a scheduled service. You must request the pickup — it is not automatic.

Do I have to schedule, or can I just set it out on trash day? You must schedule, at least one business day ahead, through the Collection Tool or ATL311. Since February 16, 2026 the pickup lands on your regular weekly collection day.

What does it cost? Nothing extra within your 12 scheduled collections per year. The 13th and later collection is $343.10 per address for one truck-capacity load for FY2026. No per-appliance city fee is published.

Who may schedule the pickup? Only the resident of the reported location. If you rent, the official pages do not settle whether you may schedule — ask ATL311 at (404) 546-0311.

When and where do I put it out? No earlier than 7 p.m. the day before, curbside at the front of the property, 6 feet from carts and yard trimmings, clear of mailboxes, meters, hydrants and wires — never in the street or on a sidewalk.

How much can I put out at once? 8 cubic yards, described by the city as the size of a small room of furniture. Anything beyond counts as an additional collection, which can consume another of your 12.

My fridge or window AC still has refrigerant — what now? It must be recovered before final disposal under federal EPA Section 608. The final processor must hold a signed recovery statement or a contract, and EPA does not accept a sticker. No city rule adds a certification, tag or door-removal step. Never vent refrigerant.

Can I take it somewhere myself? CHaRM (Live Thrive) accepts major appliances by appointment for $15–$20 each at 1110 Hill St SE, Atlanta and 1225 Columbia Dr, Decatur. The city points residents there because it has no household hazardous waste program.

Does Georgia Power still pick up refrigerators for free? Treat it as closed — the official page says Refrigerator Recycling+ concluded with pickups by Dec 1, 2025 and will not be renewed in 2026. Call 1-866-446-9250 to confirm.

I'm buying a new appliance — will the store take the old one? Best Buy: $49.99 with a delivered replacement, or $199.99 standalone for up to 2 large products. The unit must be emptied and, if installation is not purchased, disconnected. Home Depot and Lowe's also haul away, but their fees are unconfirmed — expect "varies; confirm at checkout."

I live in a building with six or more units. What applies to me? Nothing in the city bulk program. Those buildings are on private service under Code Sec. 130-38 and arrange their own hauler. Ask your property manager, and use CHaRM if you can self-haul.

Are tires accepted with bulk? Unconfirmed. The official pages conflict — one lists up to four tires as approved, while the operations page and the ATL311 article both exclude auto parts including tires. Ask ATL311 rather than assuming acceptance.

Sources

1. Bulk Waste Collection (official hub), City of Atlanta: https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/public-works/bulk-waste-collection
2. Office of Solid Waste Services, City of Atlanta: https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/public-works/office-of-solid-waste-services
3. Bulk Collection Request, ATL311 Customer Self-Service: https://www.atl311.com/knowledgearticle?code=KB0011524
4. 2025–2027 Solid Waste Service Rate, City of Atlanta: https://atlantaga.gov/government/departments/public-works/2025-2027-solid-waste-service-rate
5. Household Hazardous Waste Disposal, City of Atlanta: https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/public-works/office-of-solid-waste-services/household-hazardous-waste-disposal
6. Find My Collection Day / Solid Waste Services Collection Tool: https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/public-works/solid-waste-services-collection-tool
7. Multi-family Recycling (Code Sec. 130-38), City of Atlanta: https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/public-works/recycling-program/multi-family-recycling
8. Book an Appointment, Live Thrive CHaRM: https://livethrive.org/charm/book-an-appointment/
9. CHaRM, Live Thrive: https://livethrive.org/charm/
10. Refrigerator Recycling+, Georgia Power: https://www.georgiapower.com/residential/save-money-and-energy/products-programs/home-energy-efficiency-programs/refrigerator-recycling.html
11. TV & Appliances Haul-away, Best Buy: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/recycling/tv-appliances-haul-away/pcmcat174900050009.c
12. Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements, U.S. EPA (Clean Air Act Section 608): https://www.epa.gov/section608/stationary-refrigeration-safe-disposal-requirements
13. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-3-4-.04 (Georgia disposal prohibitions), Cornell LII: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/georgia/Ga-Comp-R-Regs-R-391-3-4-.04
14. Chapter 391-3-4 Rules for Solid Waste Management, Georgia EPD: https://epd.georgia.gov/chapter-391-3-4-rules-solid-waste-management
15. Pollution Prevention, Fulton County: https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/services/water-services/public-education-and-outreach/pollution-prevention

City of Atlanta pages are the final authority on bulk eligibility, fees and set-out rules. This guide covers the City of Atlanta service area only — neighboring cities and unincorporated Fulton or DeKalb run their own programs, and multi-family buildings of six or more units are on private service. Fees, hours, closure dates and program statuses change; confirm current details on the official pages or with ATL311 at (404) 546-0311 before you set anything out or drive to a drop-off.