NYC Appliance Disposal: Free Curbside Pickup

Item: Appliances — large appliances, CFC/Freon cooling appliances, and small appliances Jurisdiction: New York City — all five boroughs inside the DSNY service area Official sources: NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and NYC311 Last verified: September 2026

Quick Answer

Getting rid of an appliance in New York City is free in almost every residential case — but it is not one single process. DSNY runs three separate doors for appliances, and walking through the wrong one is how an old refrigerator sits at the curb for a week with a sticker on it.

The three doors are:

• Mostly metal or rigid plastic? It goes out with recycling, curbside next to your recycling container.
• Non-recyclable bulk? It goes out on your trash / large-item collection day — never on recycling day.
• Does it cool or chill? An air conditioner, dehumidifier, refrigerator, freezer, water cooler or wine cooler needs a free DSNY CFC/Freon removal appointment before it will be collected at all.

For a residential address in the five boroughs served by DSNY:

• Free curbside collection of large items is available, including appliances. There is no fee for residential set-out.
• Up to 6 bulky items may be placed out per collection day.
• You cannot book a bulk pickup appointment. DSNY no longer offers them. Ordinary bulky items are collected on your regular recycling or trash day.
• The only appointment that still exists for appliances is the free CFC/Freon recovery appointment, required for anything with a cooling system.
• Set-out window: curbside between 6:00 PM and midnight the evening before collection day. Everything must be out by midnight.
• Cooling appliances are not collected without the CFC appointment, and only tagged units are picked up.

That is the whole decision tree in one screen. Everything below explains how to apply it to the appliance sitting in your apartment.

Quick Facts

Who this covers — eligibility in plain terms

This guidance covers residential addresses within the DSNY service area (all five boroughs). It also covers non-profit institutions for CFC removal.

It does not cover:

• Businesses and commercial spaces, including a commercial ground-floor unit inside a residential building. Businesses cannot use the residential CFC service and may receive a Notice of Violation for booking a residential appointment. They need a private carter.
• Buildings that do not receive DSNY service. Check with building management if you are unsure.
• Oversized or commercial-size appliances. These will not fit a collection truck and require a private removal service. Soda and vending machines need a special phone request rather than the standard route.

Renters are eligible. The CFC appointment is based on the address, not on who owns the building, so an apartment dweller at a DSNY-serviced residential address can book one directly. You do not need your landlord to arrange it.

Jurisdiction warning

This page describes New York City rules only. If your address is outside the five boroughs, or your building is not serviced by DSNY, the curbside routes, the CFC appointment and the collection schedule described here do not apply to you — contact your own municipality or your building's waste hauler.

Two more limits on top of that:

• Building rules can override the curbside default. Landlords, co-op and condo boards, and building management can require bulk items to be placed in a designated area rather than at the curb. Confirm before you move anything.
• Commercial addresses are excluded from the residential CFC service, including storefronts and ground-floor commercial units inside otherwise residential buildings. Using the residential route from a business address risks a Notice of Violation.

Which route does your appliance take?

Ask two questions in order.

Question 1: Does it cool or chill? Air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, freezers, water coolers and wine coolers contain refrigerant. These require a CFC removal appointment. DSNY will not collect an untagged cooling appliance, and setting one out without the appointment does not work.

Question 2: If it does not cool, is it mostly metal or rigid plastic? If yes, it goes out with recycling. NYC311 lists these recyclable bulky appliances as examples: clothes dryers, dishwashers, ovens, washing machines, and water heaters of 50 gallons or less. Metal-heavy units like these are set curbside next to your recycling container.

Otherwise, the item is non-recyclable bulk and goes out on the trash / large-item collection day — never on recycling day.

Note on water heaters: the 50-gallon figure comes from the NYC311 recycling rules. The DSNY appliances page lists water heaters as large appliances without stating a cap. Treat 50 gallons as the documented threshold and plan on a private carter for larger units, since anything exceeding the bulk limits cannot go out curbside.

A quick classification shortcut for common items:

Free curbside pickup: the 6-item limit and which day

Curbside removal of large items from DSNY-serviced residential buildings is free. There is no DSNY fee for a residential set-out.

Two rules matter more than the rest:

1. Six items per collection day. You can put out up to six bulky items at a time. If you are clearing out an apartment's worth of appliances, that cap decides how many collection days you need.
2. No bulk appointments. The old bulk appointment system is gone. Collection happens on your regular trash or recycling day, whichever matches the item. The single exception is CFC/Freon recovery, which still requires an appointment.

The most common reader error here is calling 311 expecting a pickup date for an ordinary bulky item. You will not get one, and that is not a change in your luck — the appointment simply does not exist anymore.

When exactly to put it out

Bulky items and bundled cardboard go curbside between 6:00 PM and midnight the night before collection day. All waste must be out by midnight.

Containerization rules also apply to your regular trash, and they differ by building size. Since November 12, 2024:

• Buildings with 1–9 units: trash goes out after 6:00 PM in bins of 55 gallons or less with secure lids.
• Buildings with 10 or more units: bins go out after 6:00 PM, or bags may be placed directly at the curb after 8:00 PM.

The bulky appliance itself sits outside the bins at the curb — the containerization rules govern the bagged and binned trash, not the large item. What governs the appliance is the 6 PM–midnight window on the correct day.

Confirm your actual trash and recycling days with the address-level collection schedule lookup before you move anything. Recycling and trash days are frequently different, and a metal appliance put out on trash night is a missed collection.

If something does not get picked up, report a missed collection through 311 starting at 8:00 AM the day after your collection day.

CFC/Freon appliances: the appointment, step by step

Anything that cools needs this. It is free for residents, and it is the one genuine appointment left in NYC appliance disposal.

1. Check the sticker first. Look for a yellow triangle warning label (see the next section). If your unit has one, this route does not apply to you.
2. Book the appointment. Call 311 (or 212-639-9675) or use the official online CFC Recovery Appointment Request form. Appointments cannot be made anonymously, and there are no same-day appointments, so book ahead.
3. Plan for up to 10 appliances per appointment. If you have more, you need a separate appointment. You also need a separate appointment if your preferred date is taken.
4. Prep the unit. Remove doors, hinges and locks from refrigerators and freezers for child and animal safety. Do not cut refrigerant lines.
5. Set it out correctly. Place the appliance at the curb with the back facing the street, between 6:00 PM and midnight the evening before the appointment.
6. Let DSNY tag it. DSNY removes the CFC and tags the unit with a six-digit number. Only tagged appliances are collected.
7. Wait for the next recycling day. Tagged cooling appliances are collected on the next recycling day, not on the appointment day itself.
8. Know your cancellation window. You can cancel or reschedule up to 24 hours ahead of the appointment.

Businesses cannot use this service. Booking it from a commercial address risks a Notice of Violation.

The yellow-triangle sticker: units DSNY cannot take

Some newer appliances use flammable R600a or R32 refrigerant. These units carry a yellow triangle warning sticker with black flames. DSNY cannot collect them at all, and a unit set out anyway receives a red sticker and is left at the curb.

If your appliance has that sticker, your options are to contact the manufacturer about take-back or to hire a private carter. Manufacturer programs vary by brand and there is no published brand list, so check your unit's own warning sticker, its manual, and the manufacturer's documentation. Do not assume that "DSNY takes appliances" applies to your specific model — this is a hard stop, not a scheduling problem.

If you are unsure whether your unit is CFC-based or flammable-refrigerant-based, read the label rather than guessing, and call 311 if the labeling is unreadable.

Small appliances

Small appliances that are mostly metal or plastic go out with recycling. That group includes blenders, coffee makers, desk fans, humidifiers, shredders, toaster ovens and corded vacuums. Microwaves, fans and irons also route to curbside recycling.

One caveat that catches people: remove rechargeable batteries first. Handheld vacuums, mowers and power tools contain batteries that must be removed and disposed of properly before the item goes to the curb. A battery left inside a small appliance is a real safety problem for collection crews.

Drop-off, retailer and specialty options

Here is where NYC differs sharply from most places: there is no public dump in the city, and there is no DSNY drop-off for appliances. Two routes people assume exist do not.

Special Waste Drop-Off sites operate in all five boroughs, Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, for NYC residents only. Proof of residency such as a New York State driver's license or a utility bill may be requested. They accept e-waste, batteries, paint, motor oil and tires — appliances are not on the accepted list. Do not load a refrigerator into a car for one of these sites.

SAFE Disposal Events accept some adjacent household items, but dates and locations rotate, and they are not an appliance disposal route.

Retailer haul-away is often the first thing people think of after buying a replacement. Terms, fees and what is covered differ from store to store and change with promotions. If a store offers to remove your old unit on delivery, get the terms in writing and confirm that refrigerant handling is included.

Utility pickup: Con Edison has operated a used-appliance recycling program with free pickup for eligible residential customers in its service area. The program's existence is documented, but current terms — incentive amounts, size limits, working-condition requirements, per-household limits and eligibility — could not be confirmed from the utility's own page. Treat the specifics as unknown and check coned.com directly before relying on it. No dollar figure appears here because none could be confirmed.

Private carter / junk removal is the route for businesses, oversized or commercial-size units, R600a/R32 units, and anything exceeding the bulk limits. Pricing is market rate and no confirmed NYC figures are published, so request quotes from more than one hauler and ask explicitly how refrigerant will be handled.

Donation or reuse can work for a working unit, but acceptance depends entirely on the individual organization — call ahead and ask whether they take the appliance, whether they collect, and who handles the refrigerant side if it cools.

Route comparison

Apartment and renter edge cases

You can book the CFC appointment yourself. It is address-based. You do not need the landlord, and it is not a building-wide service. This is worth repeating because renters often assume the super has to do it.

Confirm where bulk set-out is allowed. Some buildings want bulky items in a designated area or storage room rather than at the curb. Improper set-out can draw complaints or fines. Ask building management before you drag anything downstairs.

Containerization follows building size. In buildings with 1–9 units, trash goes out after 6:00 PM in bins of 55 gallons or less with secure lids. In buildings with 10 or more units, bins go out after 6:00 PM or bags after 8:00 PM. The appliance itself still follows the 6 PM–midnight window on its collection day.

NYCHA residents should not self-haul to the curb. Development waste management plans show staff-managed set-out locations, waste compounds and private carters handling bulk, with CFC removal coordinated through DSNY appointments by building staff. Contact building management rather than putting the appliance out yourself.

Commercial ground-floor spaces in residential buildings are outside the residential CFC service. If you run a business out of a storefront or ground-floor unit, use a private carter.

Prep and safety before the appliance leaves your home

• Remove doors, hinges and locks from refrigerators, dryers and washing machines before set-out. This is a child and animal entrapment safety rule, not a nicety.
• Remove cables, wires and cords from items going out.
• Do not cut refrigerant lines. Refrigerant recovery is DSNY's job on the CFC route; cutting lines on any unit is unsafe and can be illegal.
• Empty and secure the unit. No food, no loose glass, nothing that shifts in transit.
• Remove rechargeable batteries from battery-powered small appliances and dispose of them through the proper battery route.
• Bed bug sign. If bulky items are infested with bed bugs, attach a sign stating that they have bed bugs.
• Check the size. If an appliance exceeds the listed weight, height or amount requirements, it needs a private carter.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Calling 311 to book a bulk pickup appointment. It no longer exists. Only CFC recovery is appointment-based.
2. Setting out a refrigerator without a CFC appointment. It will not be collected. Only tagged units are picked up.
3. Putting non-recyclable bulk out on recycling day. Non-recyclable bulky items go out on trash/large-item day instead.
4. Assuming you can drop appliances at a Special Waste Drop-Off site. Appliances are not accepted there, and you will make a wasted trip.
5. Driving to a city dump. There are no public dumps in NYC.
6. Missing the 6 PM–midnight window. Out by midnight means out by midnight. A late set-out is a missed collection.
7. Ignoring the yellow-triangle sticker. Flammable-refrigerant units cannot be collected by DSNY at all — the collection truck is not the answer, the manufacturer or a carter is.
8. Leaving the battery in a handheld vacuum or power tool. Remove and dispose of it properly first.
9. Booking a residential CFC appointment from a business address. That risks a Notice of Violation.
10. Assuming the landlord has to arrange it. The CFC appointment is yours to book at a residential address.

Official verification checklist

1. Look up your address's trash and recycling days using the DSNY collection schedule lookup. This determines which night the item goes out.
2. Read the warning label on any cooling appliance and confirm whether it is a standard CFC unit or an R600a/R32 flame-sticker unit.
3. Book or confirm the 311 CFC appointment if the unit cools with standard refrigerant, and confirm the date is before your planned set-out.
4. Confirm your building's set-out location and rules with management, especially in larger buildings, NYCHA developments, or co-op/condo buildings with their own policies.
5. Re-check Con Edison's program terms on coned.com before relying on that route.
6. Report a missed collection through 311 starting at 8:00 AM the day after your collection day.

Frequently asked questions

Does NYC charge for appliance pickup? No. Residential curbside bulk collection and CFC/Freon removal are both free. Private carters set their own market-rate prices, and no confirmed NYC price figures are published here.

Can I schedule a bulk pickup for my appliance? No. Bulk pickup appointments are no longer offered. Ordinary bulky items go out on your regular recycling or trash/large-item day. The only appliance appointment still available is CFC/Freon removal.

Which day does my washing machine go out? Recycling day. Washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and ovens are listed by NYC311 as recyclable bulky items and are placed curbside next to your recycling container.

Will DSNY take my refrigerator without an appointment? No. Any appliance that cools or chills requires a CFC removal appointment, and DSNY will not collect it without one. Untagged units are not collected.

How many appliances can I put out at once? Up to six bulky items per collection day curbside, and up to 10 appliances per CFC removal appointment. More than 10 cooling appliances needs a separate appointment.

I live in an apartment. Can I use the CFC appointment? Yes, if your building is a DSNY-serviced residential address. The appointment is address-based and any resident there can make one. Check with building management about where the unit should be placed.

My appliance has a yellow triangle with flames on the label. What now? DSNY cannot collect it. Contact the manufacturer about take-back options or hire a private carter. Units set out anyway get a red sticker and are left.

Can I drop my appliance at a Special Waste Drop-Off site? No. Those sites take e-waste, batteries, paint, motor oil and tires — not appliances.

What if my building is not serviced by DSNY? The free curbside route does not apply. Contact building management about how waste is handled and expect to use a private carter.

What about a water heater larger than 50 gallons? The 50-gallon-or-less threshold comes from the NYC311 recycling rules, and larger units are over the bulk limits for curbside collection. Plan on a private carter for anything bigger.

I run a business from a storefront or commercial ground-floor unit. Can I use these routes? No. The CFC service and the residential curbside routes are for residential addresses only. Book a private carter, and do not use the residential CFC form — a commercial booking risks a Notice of Violation.

The truck skipped my appliance. What do I do? Report a missed collection through 311 starting at 8:00 AM the day after your collection day. First check that the item was out by midnight the night before, on the day that matches its route.

Sources

1. DSNY — Get Rid of Large Items: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/collection/get-rid-of/large-items.page
2. DSNY — Appliances: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/collection/get-rid-of/appliances.page
3. DSNY — CFC Removal: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/collection/get-rid-of/cfc-removal.page
4. NYC311 — CFC and Freon Removal: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01792
5. NYC311 — Bulk Item Disposal: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article?kanumber=KA-01969
6. NYC311 — Trash, Recycling, and Compost Collection Schedule: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article?kanumber=KA-01801
7. NYC311 — Recycling Rules: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article?kanumber=KA-02013
8. DSNY — Trash (containerization rules): https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/collection/residents/trash.page
9. DSNY — Special Waste Drop-Off Sites: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/what-we-do/programs/special-waste-drop-off.page
10. DSNY — Special Waste How-to-Dispose Flyer (PDF): https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/downloads/what-we-do/programs/special-waste-how-to-dispose-flyer.pdf
11. DSNY — Find Your Collection Schedule: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/forms/collection-schedule
12. DSNY — CFC Recovery Appointment Request: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/forms/cfc-recovery-appointment-request
13. Con Edison — Used Appliance Recycling Program (terms unconfirmed): https://www.coned.com/en/save-money/used-appliance-recycling-program
14. NYCHA — Development Waste Management Plan (PDF): https://www.nyc.gov/assets/nycha/downloads/pdf/waste-mgmt/Manhattan/Lincoln_020.pdf

DSNY and NYC311 pages are the final authority for curbside rules, eligibility and scheduling. Confirm current details on the live pages before you set anything out, and call 311 (or 212-639-9675) if your situation does not match the routes described here.