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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a dishwasher in Philadelphia, verified October 2026.
Checked against Philadelphia Sanitation
2
compactible large items per week with regular trash, no appointment
4
items per Residential Bulk Collection appointment
6
Sanitation Convenience Centers, free with proof of residency
Every route for a dishwasher in Philadelphia, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Philadelphia guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Philadelphia, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Philadelphia curbside large items and Residential Bulk Collection: dishwashers
Free, with a step firstA dishwasher is a major appliance: bulk appointment or Convenience Center, fully uninstalled.
Who qualifies: Households with city trash collection (generally buildings of 6 or fewer units). Larger buildings use private haulers.
How to schedule: Two paths. Compactible furniture (sofas, chairs, bagged mattresses) goes out with regular trash, up to 2 items a week, no appointment. Appliances, TVs, and tires use the Residential Bulk Collection Program: book an appointment through the Sanitation website or 311, up to 4 items per appointment, collected from your regular trash spot.
Limits: 2 compactible large items per household per week at the curb. 4 items per bulk collection appointment. Sanitation Convenience Centers take up to 2 appliances and 4 tires per day with proof of residency.
Set-out: Set items at your regular trash pickup spot on trash day (after 7 p.m. the night before). Mattresses and box springs must be sealed in plastic mattress bags. Keep sidewalks passable.
Residential Bulk Collection appointment: dishwashers
FreeUp to 4 items per appointment.
Where: Picked up from your regular trash location
How it works: Book through the Department of Sanitation website or 311. Up to 4 items per appointment. Refrigerators must be empty with doors removed; tires must have rims removed and 4 tires count as one item. Sanitation calls if weather forces a reschedule.
Donation pickup in Philadelphia (usable dishwashers)
FreePhiladelphia’s donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program-specific rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don’t work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call before scheduling if you’re unsure, pickups that find unacceptable items will leave them behind.
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 Philadelphia: 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 dishwashers, 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 Philadelphia: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Philadelphia’s bulk pickup landscape changed materially in 2024. After more than a decade with no curbside bulk service, the city restored the program in September 2024 as part of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s One Philly, United City Cleaning Initiative. Combined with the six Sanitation Convenience Centers and the new twice-a-week trash pilot, Philly residents have more options today than they’ve had in years. This page walks through every one.
The Philadelphia rule for dishwashers: A dishwasher is a major appliance: bulk appointment or Convenience Center, fully uninstalled.
Program basics: 2 compactible large items per household per week at the curb. 4 items per bulk collection appointment. Sanitation Convenience Centers take up to 2 appliances and 4 tires per day with proof of residency. Set items at your regular trash pickup spot on trash day (after 7 p.m. the night before). Mattresses and box springs must be sealed in plastic mattress bags. Keep sidewalks passable.
What the city will not take: Electronics (banned from trash under Pennsylvania law), appliances and large metal items without a bulk appointment, tires without an appointment, construction debris, and household hazardous waste.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Philadelphia Department of Sanitation: Residential trash and recycling rules, City of Philadelphia: Residential Bulk Collection Program announcement (September 2024), City of Philadelphia: Sanitation Convenience Centers. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why dishwashers are different from ordinary bulk. Dishwashers are usually replaced as part of a kitchen project, which means the old one often ends up sitting in a garage because nobody planned its exit. Because they are lighter than other appliances, two people can carry one to the curb, but the uninstall involves three connections (power, water, drain) and any of them done wrong can flood a cabinet.
Three mistakes that get dishwashers left at the curb:
Paid options are rarely needed for a dishwasher alone, but they make sense when it is part of a larger kitchen cleanout or when nobody is available to carry it.
Self-haul to a transfer station
Free to $20A dishwasher fits in most SUVs with the seats down. County transfer stations accept it as an appliance or bulky item, sometimes with a small fee.
Lay a tarp down. Even a drained dishwasher drips from the sump for a day.
LoadUp paid dishwasher pickup
$80+For households who can’t wait for the next available bulk appointment, have items the city won’t take, or live in apartment buildings over 6 units, LoadUp offers professional removal in Philadelphia with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your dishwasher. 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 dishwasher pickup in Philadelphia with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Philadelphia proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Philadelphia junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national dishwasher disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Philadelphia: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Philadelphia pick up dishwashers for free?
Yes, uninstalled, with a bulk collection appointment or at a Convenience Center.
Where can I donate a dishwasher in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia’s donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program-specific rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
How much does paid dishwasher removal cost in Philadelphia?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single dishwasher pickup in Philadelphia starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who can’t wait for the next available bulk appointment, have items the city won’t take, or live in apartment buildings over 6 units, LoadUp offers professional removal in Philadelphia with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
Can a dishwasher go out with bulk trash?
In most cities, yes. Dishwashers are usually treated as a standard large item or a non-refrigerant appliance. Confirm the local rule in the directory below and whether a separate appliance appointment is required.
Does a dishwasher contain refrigerant or anything hazardous?
No. Dishwashers have no refrigerant and no regulated components. Some older models have a small mercury-free float switch and a capacitor; both are routine for recyclers.
How do I disconnect a built-in dishwasher?
Turn off the breaker and confirm power is off. Shut the hot water stop under the sink and disconnect the supply line. Disconnect the drain hose at the disposal or air gap. Remove the kick plate, open the junction box, and disconnect the wires (or unplug it if corded). Remove the two mounting screws under the counter and slide the unit out onto a towel.
How much does a dishwasher weigh?
Most 24-inch built-ins weigh 60 to 90 pounds. Stainless-tub models are at the upper end. Portable units with a wood top run 90 to 120 pounds.
Is this Philadelphia page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Philadelphia guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.