Home › By item › Refrigerator › Memphis
A public resource guide
Free refrigerator removal in Memphis, TN
Every free and paid way to get rid of a refrigerator in Memphis, verified October 2026.
Checked against Memphis Solid Waste
Home › By item › Refrigerator › Memphis
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a refrigerator in Memphis, verified October 2026.
Checked against Memphis Solid Waste
2x a month
Outside-the-Cart bulk collection on your regular day
10 cu yd
maximum pile, within 3 feet of the street
4
tires per home accepted at the curb
Every route for a refrigerator in Memphis, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Memphis guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Memphis, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Memphis Outside-the-Cart bulk collection: refrigerators
Free, with a step firstMemphis collects appliances Outside-the-Cart; remove the door and call 311 before set-out so a crew equipped for refrigerant handles it. Scrap yards are the year-round alternative.
Who qualifies: Homes with City of Memphis solid waste service (the city cart). Apartment complexes use private haulers.
How to schedule: No appointment for ordinary bulk. Outside-the-Cart collection runs twice a month on your regular collection day (weeks 1 and 3 or weeks 2 and 4 depending on your address; check memphistn.gov/solid-waste, the Memphis Curbside Collection app, or 311). The city asks you to call 311 so crews know items are out.
Limits: Bulky piles no more than 10 cubic yards, within 3 feet of the street. Up to 4 tires per home per collection.
Set-out: Within 3 feet of the street, away from mailboxes, parked cars, fences, trees, and low limbs, on your Outside-the-Cart week. Keep yard waste separate from other bulk so it can be composted.
Donation pickup in Memphis (usable refrigerators)
FreeMemphis’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 Memphis: 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 Memphis: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
If you live in Memphis, your bulk pickup runs on a system the city calls Outside-the-Cart, twice-monthly collection on your regular trash day. This page walks through how it works, what gets accepted, and every other free or low-cost disposal option in Shelby County.
The Memphis rule for refrigerators: Memphis collects appliances Outside-the-Cart; remove the door and call 311 before set-out so a crew equipped for refrigerant handles it. Scrap yards are the year-round alternative.
Program basics: Bulky piles no more than 10 cubic yards, within 3 feet of the street. Up to 4 tires per home per collection. Within 3 feet of the street, away from mailboxes, parked cars, fences, trees, and low limbs, on your Outside-the-Cart week. Keep yard waste separate from other bulk so it can be composted.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste (Shelby County facility at 6305 Haley Rd), construction debris from contractors, and roofing. Piles over 10 cubic yards are left.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Memphis Solid Waste: Household Garbage and Outside-the-Cart rules, City of Memphis: Solid Waste Convenience Center locations. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Memphis. Shelby County operates a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility for county residents. Note: no latex paint accepted, no televisions accepted, and no commercial waste. Bring your latest MLGW bill and picture ID. Several retailers 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.
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 households who can’t wait for the bi-monthly Outside-the-Cart cycle or live outside the City of Memphis service area, LoadUp offers professional removal in Memphis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Memphis with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Memphis proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Memphis 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 Memphis: mattress, couch, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Memphis pick up refrigerators for free?
Yes, with the door removed; call 311 first so the right crew comes.
Where can I donate a refrigerator in Memphis?
Memphis’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 refrigerator removal cost in Memphis?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single refrigerator pickup in Memphis 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 bi-monthly Outside-the-Cart cycle or live outside the City of Memphis service area, LoadUp offers professional removal in Memphis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 Memphis page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Memphis guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.