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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a air conditioner in Fayetteville / Bentonville, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Fayetteville
5
bulky items free on your B week, the same day as yard waste
Wednesdays
metal items and appliances, scheduled by calling 910-433-1FAY
4 ft
clearance from every other object at the curb
Every route for a air conditioner in Fayetteville / Bentonville, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Fayetteville / Bentonville guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Fayetteville / Bentonville, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Fayetteville B-week bulky item collection: air conditioners
Free, with a step firstAir conditioners are metal appliances for the Wednesday scheduled collection.
Who qualifies: Single-family residential properties with City of Fayetteville solid waste service.
How to schedule: No appointment for up to 5 non-metal bulky items: set them out on your B week, the same day as yard waste. Metal items and appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, bikes) are collected on Wednesdays and must be scheduled by calling 910-433-1FAY (1329). Six or more items, or owner-generated construction debris including carpet, must be paid for and scheduled through FayFixIt, 910-433-1329, or 455 Grove St.
Limits: 5 bulky items per B-week collection at no charge; 6 or more is a paid scheduled collection. Appliances and furniture must be emptied with doors secured or removed.
Set-out: At the curb at least 4 feet from any other object, not in the road or under trees, power lines, or near mailboxes, cars, and fences. Nothing mixed with other waste.
Read the full Fayetteville / Bentonville city services guide ›
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 Fayetteville / Bentonville: 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 Fayetteville / Bentonville: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Northwest Arkansas covers two distinct cities with different waste programs. Fayetteville runs a city-operated Pay-As-You-Throw system with 1 free curbside bulky-waste pickup per year plus 4 free Transfer Station drop-offs. Bentonville uses Republic Services with appointment-based bulk pickup (fees may apply). Both cities have strong recycling programs and are served by Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Arkansas for donations. This guide covers disposal options for both cities.
The Fayetteville / Bentonville rule for air conditioners: Air conditioners are metal appliances for the Wednesday scheduled collection.
Program basics: 5 bulky items per B-week collection at no charge; 6 or more is a paid scheduled collection. Appliances and furniture must be emptied with doors secured or removed. At the curb at least 4 feet from any other object, not in the road or under trees, power lines, or near mailboxes, cars, and fences. Nothing mixed with other waste.
What the city will not take: Tires (up to 5 per household with rims removed are accepted at the Ann Street Landfill), electronics (computers, TVs, printers, stereos), and hazardous waste.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Fayetteville Solid Waste: Bulky Items. 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 Northwest Arkansas households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Northwest Arkansas area.
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 Fayetteville / Bentonville with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Fayetteville / Bentonville proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Fayetteville / Bentonville 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 Fayetteville / Bentonville: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Fayetteville / Bentonville pick up air conditioners for free?
Yes, on a Wednesday after calling 910-433-1FAY.
How much does paid air conditioner removal cost in Fayetteville / Bentonville?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single air conditioner pickup in Fayetteville / Bentonville starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Northwest Arkansas households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Northwest Arkansas area.
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 Fayetteville / Bentonville page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Fayetteville / Bentonville guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.