Appliance Disposal in Philadelphia (2026): Free Bulk Pickup

Item: Refrigerators and freezers, air conditioners, hot water heaters, microwaves, stoves and ranges, washers and dryers Jurisdiction: City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation service area only. Residential households and multi-family dwellings with six units or fewer that receive City sanitation collection, plus qualified condominiums and cooperatives. Buildings with more than six units, non-qualifying condos, and commercial properties are not served and must use a private hauler. Official sources: City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation (bulk collection hub, bulky-item service page, Sanitation Convenience Centers page, Residential Trash and Recycling Rules, Residential Bulk Collection flyer, 2024 program press releases), Philadelphia Code Chapter 10-700 certified ordinance text, Philly311, the City's Recycling & Donation Finder, U.S. EPA Section 608 safe-disposal and appliance-disposal guidance, PECO appliance recycling, Best Buy haul-away terms Last verified: September 2026 · Next review: December 2026

Philadelphia appliance disposal is not a "put it out with the trash" job. A dead refrigerator, a replaced stove, or a water heater that gave out has to clear the same three gates: whether your address gets City sanitation collection at all, whether your building stays under the six-unit line, and — for anything holding refrigerant — what has to happen to the unit before it is moved.

Get one of those wrong and the appliance sits at the curb untouched or gets turned away at a facility gate. This guide covers the two free routes the City offers, the appointment limits that decide whether a pickup is even possible, the one prep rule the City actually publishes for refrigerators, what federal law says about refrigerant (and what it does not), and the routes that look obvious but are not open to Philadelphia households.

Quick Answer

Philadelphia gives eligible households two free ways to get rid of a large appliance, and neither one is "set it out with the trash."

The primary route is the City's residential bulk collection — appointment only. Book at bulkcollection.phila.gov or call 311; the City collects from your normal collection point (curbside or rear driveway). The limits are four (4) bulk items per appointment and one appointment per household per week, bookable up to a month ahead. There is no walk-up bulk collection.

The second route is self-haul to one of six Sanitation Convenience Centers, open Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m., closed City holidays. You need proof of Philadelphia residency and a vehicle whose total weight is under 6,000 pounds.

Two things decide whether these routes are open to you. Eligibility: single-family homes and multi-family dwellings with six units or fewer on City sanitation, plus qualified condominiums and cooperatives under the City Code — buildings over six units, non-qualifying condos, and commercial properties are not served and need a private hauler. Prep: a refrigerator must be empty with its doors removed.

No date can be promised. Appointments are first-come, first-serve and the calendar can be fully booked, so check bulkcollection.phila.gov or call 311 before moving anything.

Quick Facts

• Official hub: bulkcollection.phila.gov
• Bulk pickup: Appointment only; free; 4 items per appointment; one appointment per household per week
• Drop-off: Six Sanitation Convenience Centers, Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m., closed City holidays
• Eligibility: Six units or fewer, or a qualified condo/co-op; more than six units means a private hauler
• Refrigerator rule: Empty, doors removed — the City publishes no tag requirement
• Set-out: Evening before pickup, curbside by 7:00 a.m., labeled with the 4-letter Pickup Code
• Not collected in bulk: Trash, mattresses, hazardous/flammable/explosive materials, auto parts, construction debris, toilets
• 311: 311 inside Philadelphia or (215) 686-8686 outside, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

Choose Your Route at a Glance

Are You in the City of Philadelphia Service Area?

These rules cover the City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation service area only. Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties run separate programs. The one five-county service is household hazardous waste, and those events take hazardous chemicals only — they are not an appliance route.

Inside the city, an inhabited private property must be a separate real-estate parcel, stay within weekly set-out limits, and have six units or fewer — unless it is a qualified condominium or cooperative. Excluded: properties with more than six units, gas stations and service stations, body shops and automotive repair shops, manufacturers and wholesalers, and any property already on private collection.

The City Code matches that line. Philadelphia Code §10-717.1 makes residential dwellings with six or fewer occupied units, plus condominiums and cooperatives, eligible for City refuse, recycling, and bulk item collection. Section 10-701 defines "Bulk Items" as large household items, whole or in pieces, including metal objects, items containing refrigerants, appliances, air conditioners, and furniture — which is why a stove and a refrigerator travel the same legal path. If you are near that line, call 311 before booking or loading anything.

Which Appliances Qualify — and the One Prep Rule That Matters

The City's list names major appliances directly: air conditioners, hot water heaters, and refrigerators with the doors removed. Microwaves, stoves and ranges, and washers and dryers fall under the bulk category the City uses. The same list covers metal-frame furniture (keep it intact, do not dismantle), large toys, flat-screen TVs, passenger car tires with rims removed (four maximum), and metal bathtubs.

The City's published refrigerator rule is short: empty, doors removed before pickup or drop-off — not taped shut, not bungeed. Removing the doors also removes the entrapment hazard that makes an abandoned refrigerator dangerous to children.

A warning about what you will read elsewhere: third-party "ordinance summary" sites claim Philadelphia requires a certified refrigerant tag and cites a $300 fine. No official City page and no certified Code text supports either. The City's rule is only "empty, doors removed." There is a real federal refrigerant rule, explained below — it just does not work the way those sites describe.

How to Book Bulk Pickup (and Why the Date Is Never Guaranteed)

The program launched Monday, September 16, 2024, and the City describes it as a free service.

1. Book at bulkcollection.phila.gov or call 311.
2. Appointments may be scheduled up to one month in advance.
3. New dates become available after midnight each day. If no dates show, all appointments are currently booked.
4. Limit: four bulk items per appointment, one appointment per household per week.

Your confirmation email carries a 4-letter Pickup Code (used to mark items) and a Service Request Number (used to follow up).

Two operational notes that trip people up. Sanitation will not enter your home or knock — the crew collects from the collection point. And the City is not responsible for items taken by others; items not set out on time or not accessible may not be collected. Reschedules are communicated by telephone, so give a number you answer.

Availability is first-come, first-serve, so no guide can promise a date. Book early and keep the convenience center as your fallback.

Set-Out Rules, the Pickup Code, and a Time Conflict Worth Noticing

Set items at your normal collection point — curbside or rear driveway — the evening before pickup. Every source agrees they must be curbside by 7:00 a.m. on pickup day, labeled with the 4-letter Pickup Code using a marker or paper and tape.

The earliest evening time is where you should not trust a single number. The City's two official descriptions disagree with each other. The bulk collection hub says no earlier than 5:00 p.m. in fall and winter, and 7:00 p.m. in spring and summer. The City's own Residential Bulk Collection flyer says no earlier than 5:00 p.m. during daylight saving time, and 7:00 p.m. the rest of the year. Those are opposite seasonal rules.

So: set out the evening before, do not go earlier than the City's stated evening time, and follow your confirmation email, which is the most specific instruction you will get. Keep items clear of hydrants, meters, and traffic, and never block a sidewalk or street.

For comparison, regular curbside set-out windows are April 1–September 30 between 7 p.m. the night before and 7 a.m. on collection day, and October 1–March 31 between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. Center City has earlier times.

What the Bulk Program Will Not Take

The bulk program does not collect household trash; mattresses; hazardous, flammable, or explosive materials; auto parts; construction or demolition materials; or toilets.

Two adjacent routes, so you do not improvise. The City still collects up to two (2) large items per household on regular trash days — compactible furniture and plastic-wrapped mattresses — but that allowance does not cover metal appliances. And household hazardous waste events take hazardous chemicals only: appliances do not go there, and neither does electronic waste, which goes to a convenience center. Mattresses are their own path: not accepted in bulk pickup, accepted unwrapped at a center, or plastic-wrapped with regular trash.

One caveat worth knowing. The City's Residential Trash and Recycling Rules page still lists bulk items such as stoves, washing machines, and air conditioners as not accepted at curbside, routing them to a private hauler or a convenience center, while the bulk collection pages describe free by-appointment curbside pickup. The appointment program is the newer, more specific source. If a building notice tells you appliances cannot be collected at the curb at all, 311 can confirm the current answer for your address.

Sanitation Convenience Centers: The Free Self-Haul Route

Six centers, Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m., closed City holidays. No fee is stated for resident drop-off.

• Proof of Philadelphia residency is required. The City says "proof that you live in Philadelphia" and publishes no document list — a lease works for renters without a utility bill in their name.
• Vehicle total weight under 6,000 pounds. This applies to the vehicle, so a rented box truck can fail the test with one washer in it.
• No commercial contractors or commercial loads.
• Regular household items are limited to once a day; the page also states oversized items once a week.

Appliances and items containing refrigerants are limited to two a day, and tires to four a day. Note the tension: the requirements section says oversized items once a week, while the accepted-materials list caps appliances at two a day. The City publishes both and does not reconcile them — state both and confirm your load with 311.

The centers also take bulk items, large metal household items, electronic waste including computers, monitors, and televisions, unwrapped mattresses and box springs, latex and water-based paint solidified with an absorbent, yard waste in paper bags, Christmas trees, trash up to six receptacles or 12 bags, and recyclables.

Apartments, Renters, and the Six-Unit Line

The test is the building, not who owns it.

• Six units or fewer on City sanitation: renters are eligible for the free bulk appointment pickup exactly like homeowners.
• More than six units: not eligible for bulk pickup. The property must use a private hauler — ask your landlord or property manager. No City page gives a resident the right to schedule City bulk pickup for a building over six units.
• Condo or co-op: unresolved. The City Code makes qualified condos and cooperatives eligible, but the bulky-item service pages say condominiums are not. Confirm with 311 rather than assuming.
• Self-haul is open to renters: a center accepts any resident with proof of Philadelphia residency, and a lease can serve as proof.
• The refrigerator prep rule applies to renters exactly as to owners.
• Household hazardous waste is different: those seasonal events (hazardous chemicals only) are open to the whole five-county region with no advance registration.

Refrigerant Appliances: What Federal Law Actually Requires

Refrigerators, freezers, and window air conditioners carry a regulated charge, and Clean Air Act Section 608 (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F) governs what happens when one enters the waste stream with it intact:

• The final person in the disposal chain — a scrap-metal recycler or landfill owner — must ensure the refrigerant is recovered before final disposal.
• That disposer must hold a signed statement from the person who dropped off the appliance (name, address, recovery date) or a contract with the supplier.
• EPA does not mandate or accept a sticker as proof of recovery.
• Individuals recovering refrigerant from small appliances (five pounds or less) in the waste stream are not required to be Section 608 certified, but the recovery equipment must meet service-equipment performance standards.
• Hazardous components — PCBs, mercury switches, compressor oil — must be removed before disposal under 40 CFR Parts 273, 279, and 761.
• EPA notes municipalities may require recovery before accepting an appliance, in which case a professional removes it first.

Philadelphia's position is just "empty, doors removed." No official City page requires a certified tag or professional removal, and no fine is published. Whether the City refuses an appliance whose refrigerant was not professionally removed, or how it verifies recovery, is not stated officially — treat that as unknown.

If you want the refrigerant handled first, ask an appliance repair shop or HVAC technician for recovery and pricing; no official source publishes a fee. Do not attempt it yourself — knowingly venting refrigerant is prohibited, and the equipment is not a homeowner tool.

Donate or Recycle First, Then Paid Options

Donation first. The City's Recycling & Donation Finder lists organizations that accept working appliances alongside convenience center locations. Recycling Office: (215) 686-5444 or recyclingoffice@phila.gov.

Utility program — currently closed. PECO's appliance recycling program is unavailable for new submissions per PECO's own page. Do not plan around it, and do not treat the rebate amounts circulating online as live; PECO's fact sheet describes a program design with a rebate for older refrigerators and freezers plus an extra amount for a qualifying small unit, but with the program closed those figures may be stale. PECO's line if you want to ask about reopening: 1-888-573-2672.

Retailer haul-away — paid, usually with a purchase. Best Buy hauls away and recycles one major appliance for $49.99 when delivering a replacement, or $199.99 standalone for up to two large products with no purchase. Any product not being directly replaced must be disconnected before arrival. These are retail prices that change — confirm at purchase. Other retailers' terms were not verified; treat them as unknown.

Private hauling and scrap. Buildings over six units and commercial properties need a private hauler, and scrap recyclers are a legitimate outlet for metal. No official source states a fee for private hauling, refrigerant removal, or scrap recycling, so no figure appears here. Get quotes directly.

Fees: What Is Documented and What Is Not

• Free, sourced: the City calls residential bulk collection a free service, and no official page states a fee.
• Free, sourced: convenience center drop-off, with no fee stated.
• Free, sourced: household hazardous waste events, no fee stated.
• Retail, volatile: Best Buy's $49.99 and $199.99 haul-away figures — re-check at purchase.
• Unknown, do not assume: private hauler service, scrap recycling, professional refrigerant removal, other retailers' terms.
• Stale, do not plan around: PECO's appliance recycling incentives while the program is closed.

Preparing an Appliance: Checklist

1. Confirm eligibility — six units or fewer, or a qualified condo/co-op. Call 311 if unsure.
2. Book first at bulkcollection.phila.gov or 311; expect the calendar to be booked out.
3. Know the limits — four items per appointment, one appointment per household per week.
4. Empty the refrigerator or freezer completely and remove the doors.
5. Read the confirmation email for the Pickup Code, Service Request Number, and set-out timing — follow the email, not either web page.
6. Set items out the evening before, curbside by 7:00 a.m., labeled with the Pickup Code.
7. Keep the pile pure — no trash, mattresses, hazardous materials, auto parts, construction debris, or toilets.
8. Keep metal-frame furniture intact; wooden-frame furniture is regular trash.
9. Remove tire rims — four tires maximum, and four tires count as one bulk item.
10. For a center trip: bring proof of residency, stay under 6,000 pounds total, no commercial load.
11. For retailer haul-away: empty the unit and disconnect anything not being directly replaced.
12. For refrigerant questions: ask an appliance shop or HVAC technician, and ask for pricing first.

Safety Warnings

• Refrigerator and freezer doors are an entrapment hazard. Remove or secure them before the unit is set out or stored anywhere children can reach.
• Refrigerant is regulated. Knowingly venting it is prohibited, EPA does not accept a sticker as proof of recovery, and recovery is not a homeowner job.
• Older appliances may contain PCBs, mercury switches, and compressor oil, which must be removed before disposal. Keep them out of regular trash.
• Large appliances are heavy. Refrigerators, washers, dryers, and water heaters are two-person lifts; clear the path first.
• Place items only at your normal collection point, clear of hydrants, meters, and traffic — never blocking a sidewalk or street.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Putting an appliance out with regular trash — metal appliances are not part of the two-large-item allowance.
• Setting it out without booking; bulk pickup is appointment-only.
• Assuming a pickup date is available; the calendar can be fully booked.
• Leaving the refrigerator doors on.
• Acting on the "certified tag" or $300 fine claim — no official City source supports either.
• Believing a sticker proves refrigerant recovery; EPA explicitly does not accept one.
• Planning around PECO's appliance recycling while the program is closed.
• Routing appliances or electronics to a household hazardous waste event.
• Telling residents of buildings over six units to book a City pickup.
• Driving a rented box truck over 6,000 pounds to a convenience center.
• Blending the two-per-day appliance figure with "oversized items once a week."
• Assuming a condo qualifies either way without confirming with 311.

Verify Before You Act

1. Confirm your address qualifies — inside the City service area, six units or fewer or a qualified condo/co-op. Call 311 if unsure.
2. Confirm the route and appointment at bulkcollection.phila.gov or 311; if nothing is available, plan a self-haul.
3. Confirm the item and prep — on the accepted list, and a refrigerator empty with doors removed.
4. Confirm logistics before the truck comes — Pickup Code, Service Request Number, set-out time, curbside by 7:00 a.m.
5. Confirm drop-off details if self-hauling — hours, the under-6,000-pound rule, per-day limits, proof of residency.
6. Confirm refrigerant and paid-alternative details — federal rules govern recovery, PECO is closed, retailer fees are volatile.

FAQ

Can Philadelphia pick up my old refrigerator at the curb? Yes, for an eligible household, through the free appointment-only bulk program at bulkcollection.phila.gov or by calling 311 — provided the unit is empty and its doors are removed. It counts as one of your four bulk items.

Is appliance pickup really free? The City describes residential bulk collection as a free service, and no official page states a fee for it or for convenience center drop-off. No official source states a fee for private hauling, refrigerant removal, or scrap recycling either.

How many appliances can I put out at once? Four bulk items per appointment, one appointment per household per week, bookable up to a month ahead with new dates released after midnight daily.

What if no appointment is available? That means all appointments are booked. The fallback is self-haul to a Sanitation Convenience Center, Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m., with proof of residency and a vehicle under 6,000 pounds.

Do I need a certified tag for the refrigerant? No official City of Philadelphia page requires a certified tag, and no fine is published. The City's rule is empty with doors removed. Federal EPA rules separately govern recovery in the disposal chain and do not accept a sticker as proof.

I rent in a large building. What are my options? Over six units, the building is not eligible for City bulk pickup and the property must use a private hauler — ask your landlord or property manager. You can still self-haul individually with proof of Philadelphia residency in a vehicle under 6,000 pounds.

Can I put a mattress or TV in a bulk appliance pile? No. Mattresses are not accepted in bulk pickup — plastic-wrapped ones go out with regular trash, unwrapped ones go to a convenience center. Electronics go to a center, never to a household hazardous waste event.

How do I get rid of a water heater, stove, or washer? The same way as any other bulk appliance: book a free bulk appointment at bulkcollection.phila.gov or 311, or drive it to a Sanitation Convenience Center. None of these count as regular trash, and metal appliances are not covered by the two-large-item curbside allowance.

Can I drop off an appliance without an appointment? Yes. The six Sanitation Convenience Centers take appliances during their posted hours, Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m., closed City holidays. Bring proof of Philadelphia residency and arrive in a vehicle whose total weight is under 6,000 pounds — no appointment is needed for drop-off.

What counts as proof of residency at a convenience center? The City says "proof that you live in Philadelphia" and publishes no list of accepted documents. A lease is a practical option for renters who do not have a utility bill in their name.

Is a microwave treated the same as a refrigerator? It is accepted as a bulk item, but it does not carry the refrigeration rule. Only refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerant-charged units like window air conditioners need to be empty with doors removed, and only those fall under the federal refrigerant rules.

What if my appliance is not collected on my pickup day? Sanitation will not enter your home or knock, and items not set out on time or not accessible may not be collected. The City is also not responsible for items taken by others. Use the Service Request Number from your confirmation email, or call 311, to follow up — reschedules are communicated by telephone.

Official Sources

• Bulk collection hub (book appointments): https://bulkcollection.phila.gov/
• Schedule trash collection for bulky household items: https://www.phila.gov/services/trash-recycling-city-upkeep/schedule-trash-collection-for-bulky-household-items/
• Find a Sanitation Convenience Center: https://www.phila.gov/services/trash-recycling-city-upkeep/find-a-sanitation-convenience-center-to-drop-off-trash-or-recycling/
• Residential trash and recycling rules: https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-streets/about/rules-and-regulations/residential-trash-and-recycling-rules/
• Residential Bulk Collection Program (publication and flyer): https://www.phila.gov/documents/residential-bulk-collection-program/
• Residential bulk collection flyer (PDF): https://phila.gov/media/20260311100542/Sanitationresidentialbulktrash1125.pdf
• City press release, bulk collection program: https://www.phila.gov/2024-09-23-city-of-philadelphia-residential-bulk-collection-program
• Program launch news post: https://www.phila.gov/2024-09-17-one-philly-united-city-cleaning-offers-new-residential-bulk-collection-program
• Drop off household hazardous waste: https://www.phila.gov/services/trash-recycling-city-upkeep/dispose-of-household-hazardous-waste/
• Recycling and donation finder: https://www.phila.gov/recycling-donation-finder/
• Philly311: https://www.phila.gov/311
• Philadelphia Code Chapter 10-700 (certified ordinance text): http://files.amlegal.com/pdffiles/Philadelphia/010659.pdf
• EPA Section 608 safe disposal requirements: https://www.epa.gov/section608/stationary-refrigeration-safe-disposal-requirements
• EPA Appliance Disposal: https://www.epa.gov/section608/appliance-disposal
• PECO appliance recycling (unavailable for new submissions): https://www.peco.com/ways-to-save/for-your-home/appliance-recycling
• Best Buy TV and appliance haul-away: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/recycling/tv-appliances-haul-away/pcmcat174900050009.c

Related guides: Furniture disposal in Philadelphia, mattress disposal, electronic waste disposal, paint disposal, tire disposal.

Contacts: Philly311 — 311 inside Philadelphia or (215) 686-8686 outside, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Recycling Office — (215) 686-5444. Tire Round-up (tires only) — (215) 685-3981. PECO appliance recycling line (program unavailable) — 1-888-573-2672.

Program rules, eligibility, limits, and hours were checked against official City and federal sources as of the date verified. The set-out evening time, convenience-center quantity figures, condo and co-op eligibility, and all private-hauler and refrigerant-removal pricing are not settled by official sources — confirm with 311 or bulkcollection.phila.gov before you act.