Home › By item › Refrigerator › Greensboro
A public resource guide
Remove the door.
Checked against City of Greensboro
Every 2 weeks
bulk items beside your cart on recycling day, under 50 pounds and 5 feet
373-CITY
call two business days ahead to schedule a free appliance pickup
5
tires per year free at the county Scrap Tire and White Goods facility on Bishop Road
Every route for a refrigerator in Greensboro, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Greensboro guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Greensboro, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Greensboro bulk trash collection: refrigerators
Free, with a step firstAppliances are collected by appointment: call 336-373-CITY two business days before your collection day and set it out with the door removed. The city handles the Freon.
Who qualifies: Single-family homes with City of Greensboro collection.
How to schedule: No appointment for ordinary bulk: set items beside your cart on your bulk day (every other week, the same day as recycling; look it up in GSO Collects). Appliances are collected by appointment: call 336-373-CITY (2489) at least two business days before your collection day.
Limits: Bulk items under 50 pounds and 5 feet long. Appliances by appointment with doors removed or secured.
Set-out: At the curb beside your cart by 7 a.m. on your bulk day. Appliances at the curb on the appointment date with doors removed.
Donation pickup in Greensboro (usable refrigerators)
FreeDonation 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 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 the program 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 Greensboro: 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 refrigerators, 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 Greensboro: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Greensboro, North Carolina runs one of the more thoughtful municipal waste systems in the Piedmont. Bulk trash collection is included in the standard service, picked up every other week on the same day as recycling, with no separate fee or appointment for routine items. Appliances are handled separately by appointment. Glass is no longer accepted in curbside recycling and goes to drop-off bins. The Recycle Right contamination program is strict: three contamination tags within six months results in cart removal. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Greensboro residents.
The Greensboro rule for refrigerators: Appliances are collected by appointment: call 336-373-CITY two business days before your collection day and set it out with the door removed. The city handles the Freon.
Program basics: Bulk items under 50 pounds and 5 feet long. Appliances by appointment with doors removed or secured. At the curb beside your cart by 7 a.m. on your bulk day. Appliances at the curb on the appointment date with doors removed.
What the city will not take: Tires (Guilford County Scrap Tire and White Goods facility, 5 free a year), electronics (banned from North Carolina landfills; HHW Collection Center takes them free), construction debris, and hazardous waste.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Greensboro Solid Waste and Recycling FAQs, City of Greensboro: White Street Landfill accepted materials, Guilford County Solid Waste Services Guide (Greensboro collection and Bishop Road facility). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Greensboro. The Greensboro Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center is the right destination for items that can’t go in any cart or bulk pickup.
Why refrigerators are different from ordinary bulk. The challenge with refrigerators is regulatory complexity, not bulk volume. Federal law (Clean Air Act Section 608) requires certified technicians to recover refrigerants, this CANNOT be done at the curb by a regular pickup crew.
Three mistakes that get refrigerators left at the curb:
When free options don’t fit your timeline or you don’t have a new appliance to swap with:
LoadUp paid refrigerator pickup
$80+For Greensboro households that need same-week or in-home pickup, crew labor, or items the city won’t take, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Greensboro area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your refrigerator. 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 refrigerator pickup in Greensboro with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Greensboro proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Greensboro junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national refrigerator disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Greensboro: mattress, couch, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Greensboro pick up refrigerators for free?
Yes, free, after scheduling at 336-373-CITY. Remove the door.
Where can I donate a refrigerator in Greensboro?
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 rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
How much does paid refrigerator removal cost in Greensboro?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single refrigerator pickup in Greensboro starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Greensboro households that need same-week or in-home pickup, crew labor, or items the city won’t take, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Greensboro area for upfront-priced pickup.
Can I just put a refrigerator at the curb?
In most cities, no. Refrigerators contain refrigerant that must be drained by a certified technician before disposal under federal Clean Air Act regulations. Most cities require either: (1) Pre-pickup drainage with a tag certifying it, OR (2) self-haul to a city Solid Waste Facility where staff handle drainage. Some cities exclude refrigerators from regular bulk entirely. Check your city’s rules in the section above.
What’s the cheapest way to get rid of a refrigerator?
In order from cheapest: (1) FREE if you’re replacing, retailer haul-away with new appliance delivery. (2) FREE PLUS REBATE if your unit is energy-inefficient and working, utility company appliance recycling rebate ($30 to $75 paid TO YOU). (3) FREE if you can self-haul, some cities (Knoxville, Albuquerque, Tucson) operate Solid Waste Facilities with on-site certified drainage. (4) ~$25 to $75 if you can’t self-haul, certified technician drainage + free city pickup. (5) $80+ for full-service paid hauling like LoadUp. Most households end up using option 1 (retailer haul-away) because they’re replacing the appliance anyway.
Why does federal law require certified refrigerant drainage?
Refrigerants are extraordinarily potent greenhouse gases. HCFC-22 (older Freon) has roughly 1,810 times the global warming potential of CO2 over 100 years. R-134a (modern automotive AC refrigerant) has 1,430. R-410A (modern home AC refrigerant) has 2,088. A typical home refrigerator contains about 4 to 8 ounces of refrigerant; releasing it during disposal is the equivalent of driving a car several thousand miles. The Clean Air Act Section 608 requires EPA-certified technicians for recovery to ensure the refrigerant is captured and reused or properly destroyed rather than vented to atmosphere.
Are washing machines and dryers handled the same way?
No, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and water heaters do NOT contain refrigerants and don’t require certified drainage. They’re typically eligible for regular city bulk pickup without special handling. The exception: gas dryers, which need their gas line professionally disconnected first (typically a plumber or appliance installer, often part of new appliance delivery).
Is this Greensboro page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Greensboro guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.