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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of exercise equipment in Minneapolis, verified October 2026.
Checked against Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling
2 + 2
large items every week: 2 on garbage day, 2 recyclable items on recycling day
'For Solid Waste'
tag every large item with that note
6 + 2
cleanup vouchers and tire vouchers a year for the South Transfer Station
Every route for exercise equipment in Minneapolis, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Minneapolis guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Minneapolis, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Minneapolis weekly large item collection: exercise equipment
FreeTreadmills are metal recyclable large items for recycling day. Remove batteries.
Who qualifies: Residential buildings with fewer than 4 units served by Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling. Larger buildings use private haulers.
How to schedule: No appointment. Each week you can set out 2 large non-recyclable items (furniture, carpet) on garbage day and 2 large recyclable items (appliances, mattresses, electronics, metal) on recycling day, next to your carts, each tagged with a note reading 'For Solid Waste'. Call 612-673-2917 with questions.
Limits: 2 non-recyclable items on garbage day plus 2 recyclable items on recycling day, every week. Customers also get 6 cleanup vouchers and 2 tire vouchers a year for the South Transfer Station.
Set-out: At your alley or curb collection point by 6 a.m. on the right day, tagged 'For Solid Waste'. Couches under 6 feet, no hide-a-beds on garbage day (those go on recycling day). Cover mattresses from rain.
Donation pickup in Minneapolis (usable exercise equipment)
FreeMinneapolis’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 Minneapolis: 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 exercise equipment, 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 Minneapolis: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Minneapolis quietly runs one of the most generous bulk pickup systems of any major U.S. city: up to 2 large items per week, every week, free, with no annual cap. The catch is the “For Solid Waste” note rule, if you don’t attach a label, crews may not collect. Mattresses and appliances must go out on recycling week, while furniture goes on garbage week. Plus you get up to 6 free cleanup vouchers per year at the South Transfer Station for additional disposal. Minneapolis also has the unusual ABE/CD recycling rotation (not a simple A/B), and bagging yard waste in regular plastic bags is illegal under Minnesota state law. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Minneapolis rule for exercise equipment: Treadmills are metal recyclable large items for recycling day. Remove batteries.
Program basics: 2 non-recyclable items on garbage day plus 2 recyclable items on recycling day, every week. Customers also get 6 cleanup vouchers and 2 tire vouchers a year for the South Transfer Station. At your alley or curb collection point by 6 a.m. on the right day, tagged 'For Solid Waste'. Couches under 6 feet, no hide-a-beds on garbage day (those go on recycling day). Cover mattresses from rain.
What the city will not take: Tires (voucher at the South Transfer Station), construction and demolition debris, paving materials, items that held hazardous waste, and anything from a business.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Minneapolis: South Transfer Station drop-off items and fees (vouchers), City of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling fact sheet (large item collection), City of Minneapolis: Large items. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why exercise equipment are different from ordinary bulk. Exercise equipment combines several disposal challenges: weight (treadmills 200 to 400 lbs assembled, ellipticals 150 to 200 lbs, home gym sets 300 to 1,000+ lbs), size (most equipment is too large for standard bulk crew lifts), embedded electronics (treadmills, smart bikes, ellipticals all have computer consoles that fall under state e-waste laws in 25+ states), and stairs (most home equipment is in basements or upper floors, requiring careful disassembly to navigate exits).
Three mistakes that get exercise equipment left at the curb:
When free options don’t fit your timeline or you don’t want to disassemble:
Specialized Equipment Movers
$150 to $500For commercial-grade equipment (Life Fitness, Precor, Cybex, Hammer Strength) or large home gyms, specialized fitness equipment movers are worth the premium. Pricing reflects the technical knowledge required to safely disassemble and move complex equipment without damaging cables, electronics, or hydraulic systems. Search “fitness equipment movers [your city]”.
LoadUp paid treadmill or exercise equipment pickup
$80+For households who need same-day service, exceed both the 2-per-week curbside limit AND the 6 annual cleanup vouchers, or live in 5+ unit buildings (where city service doesn’t apply), LoadUp offers professional removal in Minneapolis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your treadmill or exercise equipment. 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 treadmill or exercise equipment pickup in Minneapolis with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Minneapolis proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Minneapolis junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national exercise equipment disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Minneapolis: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Minneapolis pick up exercise equipment for free?
Yes, on recycling day, tagged.
Where can I donate exercise equipment in Minneapolis?
Minneapolis’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 exercise equipment removal cost in Minneapolis?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single treadmill or exercise equipment pickup in Minneapolis 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 service, exceed both the 2-per-week curbside limit AND the 6 annual cleanup vouchers, or live in 5+ unit buildings (where city service doesn’t apply), LoadUp offers professional removal in Minneapolis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
Will Goodwill or Salvation Army take my old treadmill?
Sometimes, but with caveats. Most donation programs accept working exercise equipment in good condition with intact electronics and no missing parts. Programs typically reject equipment over 10 to 15 years old, equipment with safety recalls, or anything that needs repair. Habitat for Humanity ReStore is often more flexible than Salvation Army or Goodwill for larger pieces. Working stationary bikes, weight sets, and ellipticals are most commonly accepted; treadmills with electronics issues are most commonly rejected.
Can I sell used exercise equipment?
Yes, and the resale market is surprisingly strong. Working treadmills typically sell for $100 to $500 on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Ellipticals: $75 to $300. Weight sets: $1 to $2 per pound (a 300-lb weight set sells for $300 to $600). Peloton bikes and high-end smart equipment hold value especially well, used Peloton bikes sell for $400 to $900 even at 5+ years old. Always include the buyer-handles-pickup option in your listing, saves you the moving fee.
How do I dispose of a treadmill that doesn’t work?
Free city bulk pickup is the typical path for non-working equipment in most cities, but disassemble first if your city has weight or size limits. Remove the electronic console (which goes through electronics recycling), then cut or fold the deck for transport. The motor contains valuable copper that scrap metal recyclers accept free (and may pay you $5 to $15 for). For paid pickup, $70 to $200 covers most single-piece equipment.
What about Peloton, NordicTrack, or smart fitness equipment?
Smart equipment with internet-connected screens (Peloton, NordicTrack iFit, Mirror, Tonal) is treated as a hybrid item, the equipment portion follows exercise equipment disposal rules, but the embedded screen falls under e-waste and may need separate handling under state e-waste laws. Best Buy will sometimes accept the entire piece for recycling at $30 to $50 fee. Used Peloton bikes still hold meaningful resale value on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace even at 5+ years old.
Is this Minneapolis page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Minneapolis guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.