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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a air conditioner in Arlington, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Arlington
2 cu yd
of bulky items per week at the curb, about a washer and dryer
7 a.m.
out on your single weekly collection day
3 free
Arlington Landfill visits a year for water utility account holders
Every route for a air conditioner in Arlington, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Arlington guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Arlington, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Arlington weekly brush and bulky collection (Republic Services): air conditioners
Free, with a step firstAir conditioners follow the refrigerator rule: refrigerant handled first, arranged through Republic Services at 817-317-2000.
Who qualifies: Single-family homes with City of Arlington curbside service, collected by Republic Services. Apartments use their complex's dumpsters.
How to schedule: No appointment. Up to 2 cubic yards of large household items (about a washer and dryer) can go at the curb each week on your single collection day, plus 2 cubic yards of bundled brush or bagged leaves. Oversized loads or Freon appliances: call Republic Services at 817-317-2000. Arlington Water Utilities account holders also get 3 free landfill visits a year.
Limits: 2 cubic yards of bulky items per week and 2 cubic yards of brush per week. 3 free Arlington Landfill visits per year, then a discounted rate.
Set-out: At the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day, 3 feet from carts and obstacles, with 15 feet of overhead clearance. Brush in 4-foot bundles under 50 pounds.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Arlington: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering air conditioners, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Arlington: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Arlington, Texas (DFW metro, #50 nationally) operates one of the most accessible bulk pickup systems in the country: bulk items are collected automatically every other week on your recycling day with no scheduling needed for standard items. The City contracts with Republic Services for all four services (trash, recycling, brush, bulk), all on the same weekday. Limit: one bulk item up to 2 cubic yards under 35 lbs per recycling day. Glass IS accepted curbside in Arlington (unusual for the region). Arlington residents receive 3 free landfill drop-off visits per year at the Arlington Sanitary Landfill. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Arlington residents.
The Arlington rule for air conditioners: Air conditioners follow the refrigerator rule: refrigerant handled first, arranged through Republic Services at 817-317-2000.
Program basics: 2 cubic yards of bulky items per week and 2 cubic yards of brush per week. 3 free Arlington Landfill visits per year, then a discounted rate. At the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day, 3 feet from carts and obstacles, with 15 feet of overhead clearance. Brush in 4-foot bundles under 50 pounds.
What the city will not take: Non-compactable material such as concrete, brick, and builder's rubble (landfill on Saturdays), hazardous waste (not at the curb or the landfill), and tires (the Arlington Landfill cannot accept them).
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Arlington: free landfill visits for residents, Fort Worth Report: Arlington's weekly cart service and bulky limits (city guidance, February 2024). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why air conditioners are different from ordinary bulk. The refrigerant is the whole story. Older units use R-22, which was phased out of production in 2020; newer ones use R-410A, which is itself being phased down under the AIM Act. Both are potent greenhouse gases and both must be captured, which is why landfills refuse ACs and why some cities charge a small refrigerant recovery fee.
Three mistakes that get air conditioners left at the curb:
Paid options matter when the unit is a heavy central condenser with no contractor involved, or when the city only offers a drop-off you cannot get to.
HVAC technician refrigerant recovery
$50 to $150An EPA-certified technician can recover the refrigerant from a window unit or condenser at your home and tag it. After that, the unit is ordinary scrap metal and any recycler or bulk program will take it.
Worth it for central condensers that need to be moved by a general hauler rather than an HVAC company.
LoadUp paid air conditioner pickup
$80+For Arlington households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (hazardous waste, construction debris), or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in DFW for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your air conditioner. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book air conditioner pickup in Arlington with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Arlington proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Arlington junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national air conditioner disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Arlington: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Arlington pick up air conditioners for free?
Call Republic Services at 817-317-2000 first.
How much does paid air conditioner removal cost in Arlington?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single air conditioner pickup in Arlington starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Arlington households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (hazardous waste, construction debris), or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in DFW for upfront-priced pickup.
Can I throw a window air conditioner in the trash?
No. Air conditioners contain refrigerant regulated under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, and landfills and transfer stations refuse them. Use a city appliance pickup, a scrap recycler with recovery equipment, or a retailer or utility takeback.
Do I have to remove the refrigerant myself?
You cannot legally do it without EPA certification. City programs, scrap yards with recovery equipment, and HVAC technicians handle it. Your job is to deliver the unit intact with the lines uncut.
Is there a fee to dispose of an air conditioner?
Many cities collect ACs free with appliance pickup. Some charge $10 to $30 for refrigerant recovery, and a few require drop-off at a solid waste facility. Scrap yards are usually free. HVAC technicians charge $50 to $150 for on-site recovery.
What about portable air conditioners on wheels?
Same rules. Portable units contain refrigerant and go through the same appliance channels as window units. Drain the condensate tank before moving it.
Is this Arlington page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Arlington guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.