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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a air conditioner in Salt Lake City, verified October 2026.
Checked against Salt Lake City
1 + 1
free Call 2 Haul pickups a year: one bulk waste, one green waste
8x4x4 ft
maximum pile, about a pickup-truck bed, mattresses set apart
If it plugs in
it qualifies: TVs, computers, and refrigerators are all accepted
Every route for a air conditioner in Salt Lake City, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Salt Lake City guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Salt Lake City, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Salt Lake City Call 2 Haul: air conditioners
FreeCoolant-containing appliances including air conditioners are accepted.
Who qualifies: Households with Salt Lake City residential curbside garbage service (you need your Public Utilities account number).
How to schedule: Schedule online at slc.gov/sustainability/call-2-haul or call 801-535-6999 (Monday to Friday, 8 to 5). Two scheduled pickups a year are included: one bulk waste pickup and one green waste pickup. Pickup lands on a scheduled day between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Limits: One bulk pickup and one green waste pickup per year. Pile about 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 4 feet high (a pickup-truck bed). Larger loads go to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill or a private hauler. Up to 4 automobile tires.
Set-out: At the curb on your scheduled date, 5 feet from hydrants, trees, poles, mailboxes, and walls, with 10 feet of open space on each side, mattresses set apart from the pile, breakables not stacked.
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 Salt Lake City: 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 Salt Lake City: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Salt Lake City operates one of the more resident-friendly bulk waste programs in the Mountain West. The free Call 2 Haul program gives every residential garbage customer two free scheduled bulk waste pickups per year, year-round on demand, with no zone rotation or appointment windows. The city also operates a mandatory 4-cart recycling and compost system with weekly collection. This guide covers every legitimate disposal option for Salt Lake City residents, including the program-specific details that distinguish SLC from surrounding cities (Salt Lake County, West Valley City, Murray, and Millcreek all have separate waste programs).
The Salt Lake City rule for air conditioners: Coolant-containing appliances including air conditioners are accepted.
Program basics: One bulk pickup and one green waste pickup per year. Pile about 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 4 feet high (a pickup-truck bed). Larger loads go to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill or a private hauler. Up to 4 automobile tires. At the curb on your scheduled date, 5 feet from hydrants, trees, poles, mailboxes, and walls, with 10 feet of open space on each side, mattresses set apart from the pile, breakables not stacked.
What the city will not take: Construction debris, household hazardous waste, large truck tires, and city-owned tree trimmings. Call 2 Haul is not a pile program for unlimited waste.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Salt Lake City Sustainability: Call 2 Haul bulk waste collection, Salt Lake City: Bulk item collection (what Call 2 Haul accepts), Salt Lake City: Material set-out guidelines. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Salt Lake City. Household hazardous waste (paint, motor oil, batteries, chemicals, pesticides) is handled through Salt Lake County, not the City of Salt Lake City. Contact Salt Lake County Health Department at (385) 468-3862 for disposal locations and event schedules. Do not put HHW in Call 2 Haul, the garbage cart, or the recycling cart.
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 Salt Lake City households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have already used their Call 2 Haul allotment, are clearing a full room or property, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Salt Lake City proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Salt Lake City pick up air conditioners for free?
Yes, with your Call 2 Haul pickup.
How much does paid air conditioner removal cost in Salt Lake City?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single air conditioner pickup in Salt Lake City starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Salt Lake City households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have already used their Call 2 Haul allotment, are clearing a full room or property, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Salt Lake City guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.