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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a air conditioner in San Francisco, verified October 2026.
Checked against SF Environment
2
free Recology bulky collections a year for buildings of 5 units or fewer
10
items per appointment, none over about 100 pounds
RECOLOGY
sign required on the pile on your scheduled date
Every route for a air conditioner in San Francisco, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full San Francisco guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in San Francisco, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Recology San Francisco Bulky Item Recycling: air conditioners
FreeWindow units are accepted appliances. Contractor-replaced central units go with the contractor.
Who qualifies: Addresses with an active Recology Sunset Scavenger or Golden Gate account, which covers nearly every San Francisco home. Buildings of 5 units or fewer get 2 free collections a year; buildings of 6 or more units get 1 free collection per unit per year.
How to schedule: Schedule in advance through Recology (online or by phone) at least a couple of weeks ahead. Up to 10 items per appointment. Place items at the curb on the morning of your date with a RECOLOGY sign attached. Extra collections are available for a fee.
Limits: 10 items per appointment, no single item over about 100 pounds, 2 free appointments a year for small buildings. Unused appointments do not carry over.
Set-out: Curbside, in front of your address, on the scheduled date, with a RECOLOGY sign on the pile. Setting items out without an appointment is illegal dumping in San Francisco, with fines up to $1,000.
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 San Francisco: 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 San Francisco: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
San Francisco runs a uniquely structured Recology system: free curbside Bulky Item Recycling by appointment via Recology, 2 pickups per year for residential customers (buildings with 5 units or fewer), 1 pickup per year per unit for apartment dwellers in 6+ unit buildings. Up to 10 items per appointment, no item over 100 lbs. The crucial detail: each item must be tagged with a sign that reads "RECOLOGY", without the sign, crews don’t know what to take. Schedule at least 2 weeks in advance via (415) 330-1300, customerservice@recologysf.com, or the online Bulky Item Recycling Form. Tenants in apartments can schedule directly without going through landlords. SF’s recycling is collected WEEKLY, unusual nationally where biweekly is standard. Composting has been mandatory since 2009 (one of the most successful urban organics programs in the U.S.). NO Styrofoam in any cart, drop off at Recology SF Transfer Station for densifier processing. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The San Francisco rule for air conditioners: Window units are accepted appliances. Contractor-replaced central units go with the contractor.
Program basics: 10 items per appointment, no single item over about 100 pounds, 2 free appointments a year for small buildings. Unused appointments do not carry over. Curbside, in front of your address, on the scheduled date, with a RECOLOGY sign on the pile. Setting items out without an appointment is illegal dumping in San Francisco, with fines up to $1,000.
What the city will not take: Hazardous waste, construction and demolition debris, auto parts, and tires. Recology runs a separate free household hazardous waste pickup for residents.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: SF Environment: Get rid of bulky items (Recology free bulky item pickup), Recology San Francisco: Bulky Item Recycling program. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in San Francisco. San Francisco residents have free hazardous waste disposal at the Recology SF Transfer Station HHW Facility at 501 Tunnel Avenue. Free for SF residents with proof of residency. Drop off paint, motor oil, pesticides, household cleaners, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, propane tanks, and electronics. Same facility processes large blocks of clean white Styrofoam through a densifier, converting it into ingots re-manufactured into moldings and boards. Several retailers also offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, 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-day or in-home pickup, exceed the 10-item or 100-lb limits, can’t wait for the 2-week appointment lead time, have already used their annual allotment, or want full-service hauling without managing the RECOLOGY-sign requirement, LoadUp offers professional removal in San Francisco 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 San Francisco with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside San Francisco proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete San Francisco 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 San Francisco: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does San Francisco pick up air conditioners for free?
Yes, with a scheduled Recology bulky collection.
How much does paid air conditioner removal cost in San Francisco?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single air conditioner pickup in San Francisco starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-day or in-home pickup, exceed the 10-item or 100-lb limits, can’t wait for the 2-week appointment lead time, have already used their annual allotment, or want full-service hauling without managing the RECOLOGY-sign requirement, LoadUp offers professional removal in San Francisco 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 San Francisco page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full San Francisco guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.