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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a air conditioner in Nashville, verified October 2026.
Checked against Nashville Waste Services
0
regular curbside bulky pickups; Metro sends bulky items to the Convenience Centers
1 free
bulk item per Convenience Center visit, plus 3 bags of trash
615-880-3897
Davidson County Sheriff's Office limited curbside bulk removal
Every route for a air conditioner in Nashville, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Nashville guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Nashville, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Nashville bulky item disposal: air conditioners
Free, with a step firstWindow units count as large household appliances on the free scrap metal list.
Who qualifies: Metro Waste Services does not run curbside bulky pickup. Residents of Davidson County use the Convenience Centers, and the Davidson County Sheriff's Office offers a limited curbside bulk item removal by inmate crews at 615-880-3897 when available.
How to schedule: Take items to a Convenience Center: one bulk item plus 3 bags of trash per visit is free (mattresses, tires with rims, and construction debris excluded from the free item). Or call the Sheriff's Office at 615-880-3897 to ask about a curbside removal; items must be at the main street, not on apartment property, and never from an eviction.
Limits: One free bulk item per Convenience Center visit; fees for additional items. Four tires without rims per month free at East and Ezell. Electronics under 100 pounds free at East, Ezell, and Omohundro.
Set-out: Do not set bulky items at the curb for the regular trash route; items outside carts are not collected and can be reported as illegal dumping. Only put items out for a confirmed Sheriff's Office removal.
Nashville Convenience Centers: air conditioners
FreeAccepted as scrap metal, one bulk item or 3 bags per visit.
Where: East, Ezell Pike, Omohundro, and Anderson Lane; hours at nashville.gov
How it works: Davidson County residents in non-commercial vehicles. One bulk item plus 3 bags free per visit; scrap metal including refrigerators and washers free; electronics free at East, Ezell, and Omohundro; tires without rims free (4 a month) at East and Ezell, $5 each with rims. Mattresses and construction debris carry fees.
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 Nashville: 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 Nashville: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Nashville’s waste collection changed materially on February 2, 2026, new routes and new holiday rules across Davidson County. Curbside bulk pickup is provided 4 times per year by request, with a 1 cubic yard limit. Combined with four free Convenience Centers (the right path for most bulk disposal), Nashville residents have several legitimate options. This page walks through every one.
The Nashville rule for air conditioners: Window units count as large household appliances on the free scrap metal list.
Program basics: One free bulk item per Convenience Center visit; fees for additional items. Four tires without rims per month free at East and Ezell. Electronics under 100 pounds free at East, Ezell, and Omohundro. Do not set bulky items at the curb for the regular trash route; items outside carts are not collected and can be reported as illegal dumping. Only put items out for a confirmed Sheriff's Office removal.
What the city will not take: Everything from regular curbside trash: bulky items, yard waste, cardboard, and electronics are banned from the cart by Metro code.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Nashville Department of Waste Services: Convenience Center Services and fees, Nashville Waste Services: Bulky Item Collection (accepted items), hubNashville: curbside bulk item pickup (Davidson County Sheriff's Office program). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Nashville. Nashville accepts household hazardous waste at Convenience Centers and through periodic HHW collection events. Check nashville.gov for current event dates. Latex or water-based paints and stains can be dried out (leave off the lid or use cat litter) and disposed of in regular trash. Several retailers offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications.
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 households who need same-week service or live in the General Services District / multi-family complexes (excluded from city bulk service), LoadUp offers professional removal in Nashville with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Nashville with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Nashville proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Nashville 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 Nashville: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Nashville pick up air conditioners for free?
Free at a Convenience Center as scrap metal.
How much does paid air conditioner removal cost in Nashville?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single air conditioner pickup in Nashville starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-week service or live in the General Services District / multi-family complexes (excluded from city bulk service), LoadUp offers professional removal in Nashville with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Nashville page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Nashville guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.