Appliance Removal in South Florida: What Happens to Your Old Fridge, Washer, and More
That old refrigerator in your garage has been there for how long now?
You unplugged it when you got the new one. Said you'd sell it, or donate it, or figure something out. That was eighteen months ago. Now it's a 250-pound monument to procrastination, too heavy to move and too awkward to ignore.
Or maybe it's a washer that finally died. A dryer that makes sounds like a jet engine. A dishwasher the new owners left behind when you bought the house. A freezer in the basement that hasn't worked since the Clinton administration.
Old appliances have a way of becoming permanent. They're too big to throw away, too heavy to move easily, and just complicated enough that "dealing with it" keeps getting pushed to next weekend.
Here's the thing though: getting rid of appliances isn't as complicated as it feels. And what happens to them afterward is actually more interesting than you'd think.
Why Appliances Are Different From Regular Junk
You can't just drag a refrigerator to the curb on trash day. Same with washers, dryers, AC units, and most major appliances. There are reasons for this, and they're not just bureaucratic annoyance.
Refrigerators and freezers contain refrigerants.
That stuff that keeps your fridge cold? It's a chemical — usually a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) or, in older units, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). Both are greenhouse gases. Released into the atmosphere, they're hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Federal law requires refrigerants to be properly recovered before disposal. You can't just dump a fridge at the landfill. It has to go through a certified process where the refrigerant is extracted by licensed technicians.
This is why your regular trash service won't take refrigerators. It's also why "I'll just leave it in the alley" is illegal dumping, not creative problem-solving.
Air conditioners have the same issue.
Window units, portable ACs, dehumidifiers — anything with a compressor and refrigerant falls under the same regulations. Even that ancient window unit from your first apartment needs proper handling.
Washers and dryers are mostly metal.
These don't have the chemical concerns of refrigerators, but they're heavy — 150-250 pounds each. They also contain recyclable materials: steel, copper, aluminum. Throwing them in a landfill wastes resources that could be recovered.
Older appliances may contain hazardous materials.
Appliances made before 2000 might contain capacitors with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), which are toxic. Very old fridges might still have CFCs, which are worse for the ozone layer. Some appliances have mercury switches.
None of this is meant to scare you. It's meant to explain why proper appliance disposal matters — and why just "getting rid of it" requires knowing what you're dealing with.
Your Options for Appliance Removal (And Their Tradeoffs)
Let's run through the realistic options for getting that old appliance out of your life:
Option 1: Retailer haul-away when you buy new
Most big appliance retailers — Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy — offer haul-away service when they deliver your new appliance. Usually $25-50 per item.
Pros: Convenient. Happens automatically. They handle disposal.
Cons: Only works if you're buying new. The old appliance has to be disconnected and accessible. Doesn't help with the fridge that's been sitting in your garage for two years.
Option 2: Utility company rebate programs
FPL (Florida Power & Light) and other utilities occasionally run appliance recycling programs. They'll pick up your old working refrigerator or freezer and give you a rebate — sometimes $50 or more.
Pros: Free pickup plus cash back. Proper recycling guaranteed.
Cons: Programs come and go — not always available. Usually limited to working refrigerators and freezers. Long wait times when programs are active. Strict eligibility requirements.
Check FPL's website for current offerings, but don't count on this as your only plan.
Option 3: Scrap metal recyclers
Old washers, dryers, and other metal-heavy appliances have scrap value. Some metal recyclers will pick up for free if you have enough, or you can haul it yourself.
Pros: Free or even paid for your junk.
Cons: Not all recyclers take all appliances. Fridges and ACs are often rejected (refrigerant issue). You typically need to transport it yourself. Scrap prices fluctuate — sometimes it's not worth their trip.
For refrigerators specifically, this usually isn't an option unless you've already had the refrigerant professionally removed.
Option 4: Donation (if it works)
Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Goodwill, and local charities accept working appliances. Some offer pickup for large items.
Pros: Feels good. Tax deduction possible. Someone else gets use from it.
Cons: Must be in working condition. Cosmetic standards vary — some charities are picky. Pickup scheduling can take weeks. Doesn't help with broken appliances.
If your washer works fine and you're just upgrading, donation is a great option. If it's broken, nobody wants it.
Option 5: Professional appliance removal service
This is what we do. You call, we show up, we take the appliance away. Working or broken, clean or rusty, connected or already sitting in your garage.
Pros: Fast — often same-day. No effort required. All appliance types accepted. Proper disposal handled.
Cons: Costs money. (We'll get to how much in a minute.)
For most people with an appliance that needs to go — especially if it's broken, old, or they just want it gone now — professional removal is the path of least resistance.
What Appliance Removal Actually Costs
Here's what you're looking at for appliance removal in Palm Beach County:
ApplianceTypical CostSingle appliance (fridge, washer, dryer, etc.)$75-150Two appliances$120-200Three or moreVolume pricing — less per itemWith other junk removalOften included in overall quote
A few factors affect price:
Location in your home. Appliance sitting in the garage with a clear path? Easy. Refrigerator in a third-floor walk-up apartment with narrow stairs? Harder. We'll do it either way, but tight access takes more time and effort.
Disconnection status. If your appliance is already unplugged and disconnected from water lines (for washers/dishwashers), it's straightforward. If it's still hooked up, we can usually disconnect it, but gas appliances need a licensed professional to disconnect first. Don't try to DIY a gas dryer disconnection.
Number of items. Multiple appliances on one trip is more efficient. If you're getting rid of a fridge and a washer, it costs less than two separate pickups.
Combination with other junk. If you're already doing a garage cleanout or renovation debris removal, throwing in an old appliance or two often adds minimal cost to the overall job.
The $75-150 range for a single appliance might seem like a lot when you're comparing it to "free" options that aren't actually available. Compare it to your time, your back, and the hassle of figuring out disposal yourself — and it usually makes sense.
What Actually Happens to Your Old Appliances
This is the part people are curious about. You call for old refrigerator disposal in West Palm Beach, we take the fridge away, and then... what?
Refrigerators and freezers:
First stop is a certified refrigerant recovery facility. Technicians extract the refrigerant using specialized equipment. The refrigerant is either reclaimed for reuse or destroyed in a controlled process that prevents atmospheric release.
After refrigerant recovery, the fridge moves to appliance recycling. The process:
Doors are removed (safety requirement)
Oils and other fluids are drained
Hazardous components are separated
The shell is shredded
Metals are sorted — steel, aluminum, copper
Plastics are separated (though plastic recycling markets are limited)
Foam insulation is handled separately (it often contains blowing agents)
A single refrigerator yields about 120 pounds of recyclable steel, plus smaller amounts of other metals. Most of that ends up back in manufacturing — new appliances, cars, construction materials.
Washers and dryers:
These are simpler. No refrigerants to worry about (unless it's a heat pump dryer, which some new ones are). The process:
Any remaining water is drained
The unit goes to a metal recycler
Shredding separates metals from other materials
Steel, copper, and aluminum are recovered
Motors have copper windings worth recovering
Remaining materials go to appropriate waste streams
A typical washer is about 60% recyclable steel by weight. Dryers are similar. The concrete counterweight in some washers is separated and reused or disposed of appropriately.
Dishwashers:
Similar to washers. Metal frame, some plastic, electronic controls. Metal gets recycled, the rest is processed as mixed waste. Water heaters, ovens, and ranges follow comparable paths.
Air conditioners:
Like refrigerators — refrigerant recovery first, then metal recycling. Window units are small enough that the whole unit often goes to a specialized facility that handles the entire process.
The bottom line: about 80-90% of major appliances can be recycled by weight. Most of that is metal, which has an established recycling market. The key is getting appliances to proper facilities rather than landfills — which is what professional appliance removal ensures.
The One-Day Refrigerator Saga
Let me tell you about a call we got last summer.
A woman in Boca Raton had a refrigerator in her garage. Standard story — replaced it when she renovated the kitchen, kept it as a "spare fridge" for drinks and overflow groceries. Used it maybe twice. For three years it sat there, half-empty, slowly becoming a fixture.
Then the compressor died. Now she had a 300-pound box that didn't work, couldn't be donated, and was too heavy for her and her husband to move.
She'd spent two weeks trying to solve this herself. Called the county — they don't pick up appliances. Called FPL — their recycling program had a six-week wait list and only took working units anyway. Called a scrap metal place — they wanted the refrigerant removed first, which meant hiring someone else. Called Goodwill — no pickup for non-working appliances.
By the time she called us, she was exhausted. Not physically — just tired of the runaround.
We picked it up the next day. Forty-five minutes start to finish. Her garage was clear, the fridge went to proper recycling, and she said something I hear a lot:
"I should have just called you three weeks ago."
Yeah. Probably.
The point isn't that we're the only option. The point is that the "free" or "DIY" options often have catches that make them effectively unavailable. When you account for time, hassle, and dead ends, professional appliance removal is often the most efficient choice — not just the easiest.
When Appliance Removal Is Urgent
Sometimes the old fridge can sit in the garage for another six months. Sometimes it can't.
Situations where you need it gone fast:
You're selling your home. Buyers don't want to inherit your dead appliances. Realtors know this — we get a lot of calls from agents prepping houses for listing.
You're moving. The movers aren't going to take your broken washing machine. It needs to be gone before moving day.
New appliance is arriving. Delivery is tomorrow and your kitchen only fits one refrigerator. The old one has to go first.
Renovation in progress. Contractor needs the space. Appliances from the tear-out are in the way.
Tenant turnover. Old appliances need out before new tenants move in.
For all of these: yes, same-day appliance removal is possible. Call in the morning, we're usually there that afternoon. Not a guarantee — depends on schedule and location — but it's common.
The premium for same-day service? Usually nothing. We're making runs throughout Palm Beach County every day anyway. If we can fit you in, we fit you in.
The Questions Everyone Asks
Do I need to defrost my freezer first?
Helpful but not required. If it's been running, turning it off 24 hours before pickup lets it defrost and drain. Less water mess during transport. If you can't or forget, we'll handle it — just let us know it's still cold.
What about the food inside?
Empty it first. We're taking the appliance, not disposing of your old condiments. (Though if you're doing a larger cleanout, we can take bagged food waste too.)
Do I need to disconnect it?
Ideally, yes. Unplug electrical appliances. Turn off water supply to washers and dishwashers. For gas dryers and ranges, have a licensed professional disconnect the gas line — this isn't optional, it's a safety issue.
If you can't disconnect water lines yourself, let us know. We can handle most disconnections except gas.
Can you take a built-in refrigerator or wall oven?
Yes, but they need to be uninstalled first. We're removal, not demolition. If it's still mounted in cabinetry, have your contractor or handyman pull it out, and we'll take it from there.
What about really old appliances?
We've taken appliances from the 1970s. Age isn't a problem. We just need to be able to move it physically. If your 50-year-old freezer is in a basement with a narrow staircase, we'll figure it out — but mention it when you call so we bring the right crew.
Do you take commercial appliances?
Restaurant equipment, industrial refrigerators, commercial washers — yes. Different pricing than residential, but we handle it. Let us know what you've got.
That Appliance Isn't Going to Move Itself
Here's the reality: whatever appliance is taking up space in your life right now, it's going to keep taking up space until someone moves it.
You can spend the next few weeks exploring options, making calls, hitting dead ends, and eventually arriving at the same conclusion. Or you can make one call, schedule a pickup, and be done with it.
Tomorrow, that corner of your garage could be empty. Your laundry room could have space again. That ugly broken fridge could be someone else's problem — actually, not even someone else's problem, just gone, recycled, handled.
One call. One pickup. Done.
Ready to get rid of old appliances?
Junk Bull provides appliance removal across Palm Beach County, Martin County, and Broward County. Fridges, washers, dryers, AC units, dishwashers — if it plugs in or hooks up, we haul it away.
Call 561-344-6677 or book online at junkbull.com.
Same-day pickup available. We disconnect, load, haul, and recycle. You don't lift a finger.
Junk Bull — Junk Removal & Demolition Serving Palm Beach, Martin & Broward Counties 📞 561-344-6677 🌐 www.junkbull.com
Fridge sitting in your garage for two years? We won't judge. We'll just take it.
