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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a lawn mower 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 a lawn mower 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: lawn mowers
Free, with a step firstDrain gas and oil, then set the mower out on recycling day as a metal item. Fuel and oil go to a Hennepin County facility.
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.
Hennepin County drop-off facilities: lawn mowers
FreeHHW accepted.
Where: Brooklyn Park (8100 Jefferson Hwy) and Bloomington (1400 W 96th St)
How it works: Free household hazardous waste and electronics drop-off for county residents; appliances and mattresses for a fee.
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 lawn mowers, 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 lawn mowers: Drain gas and oil, then set the mower out on recycling day as a metal item. Fuel and oil go to a Hennepin County facility.
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.
Hazardous and regulated components in Minneapolis. Minneapolis residents can dispose of household hazardous waste at Hennepin County Hazardous Waste Drop-off Facilities (free for Hennepin County residents). 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, and most pharmacies for unused medications. Hennepin County’s Green Disposal Guide (use Hennepin County’s tool) shows the right place for nearly any unwanted item.
Why lawn mowers are different from ordinary bulk. Fuel and oil are hazardous household waste. A mower set out with gas in the tank will be skipped by most bulk crews and refused by scrap yards, and residual oil leaks onto the truck bed. Draining both takes ten minutes but is the step everyone skips.
Three mistakes that get lawn mowers left at the curb:
Paid pickup is mostly for riding mowers that will not fit a bulk program and have no scrapper nearby.
Self-haul to a scrap yard or transfer station
Free to $20A push mower fits in any trunk with the handle folded. A rider needs a trailer or ramps into a pickup. Scrap yards take both free; transfer stations charge a small bulky fee.
Drain fluids before loading so nothing spills in the vehicle.
LoadUp paid lawn mower 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 lawn mower. 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 lawn mower 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 lawn mower 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 lawn mowers for free?
Yes, drained, on recycling day, tagged.
How much does paid lawn mower removal cost in Minneapolis?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single lawn mower 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.
Can I put a lawn mower out with bulk trash?
Push mowers, yes, in most cities, provided the gas and oil are drained. Riding mowers usually exceed bulk weight limits and go to a scrap yard or paid pickup. Check your city’s rule in the directory below.
How do I drain the gas and oil?
Run the mower until it stalls or siphon the tank into an approved gas can. Then tip the mower with the spark plug side up and drain the oil through the fill tube into a pan, or remove the drain plug underneath. Take both to an auto parts store or HHW facility.
Will a scrap yard pay for a lawn mower?
A few dollars for a push mower, more for a rider. The aluminum engine block has the most value. Many people find the free pickup more useful than the payout.
What do I do with the battery from a riding mower?
It is a 12V lead-acid battery accepted free at any auto parts store, often with a core credit, and at HHW facilities. Never put it in the trash.
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.