Home › By item › Refrigerator › Miami
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a refrigerator in Miami, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Miami Solid Waste
Weekly
bulky trash collection on your scheduled day, no appointment
Electronics OK
TVs, monitors, and computers are on the city's accepted list
1 load
per day at the city Mini Dump, 1290 NW 20th St, with proof of residency
Every route for a refrigerator in Miami, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Miami guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Miami, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
City of Miami weekly bulky trash collection: refrigerators
FreeWhite goods including refrigerators are on the city's bulky list. Remove the door for safety; the city handles the refrigerant.
Who qualifies: Households with City of Miami Solid Waste service. Unincorporated Miami-Dade County has a separate program (2 appointment pickups a year of 25 cubic yards).
How to schedule: No appointment. The city collects bulky trash once a week on your scheduled bulky day; look up your address at miami.gov. Residents can also take one pickup-truck load per day to the city Mini Dump with proof of residency.
Limits: Bundles tied no more than 3 feet long. Keep yard trash separate from garbage and recycling. Mini Dump: one trip per day, one pickup-truck load.
Set-out: At the curb in front of your home, clear of drains, meters, and cars, by 7 a.m. on your bulky trash day.
Donation pickup in Miami (usable refrigerators)
FreeMiami’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 Miami: 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 Miami: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
If you live in Miami-Dade and need to get rid of bulk waste, you have more free options than most U.S. cities, if you know how to use them. This page walks through every legitimate path, in order from free to paid, with the specific rules that apply in your jurisdiction.
The Miami rule for refrigerators: White goods including refrigerators are on the city's bulky list. Remove the door for safety; the city handles the refrigerant.
Program basics: Bundles tied no more than 3 feet long. Keep yard trash separate from garbage and recycling. Mini Dump: one trip per day, one pickup-truck load. At the curb in front of your home, clear of drains, meters, and cars, by 7 a.m. on your bulky trash day.
What the city will not take: Household garbage, construction and demolition debris, and automotive items including tires, batteries, oil, and rims. Hazardous chemicals go to Miami-Dade's Home Chemical Collection Centers.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Miami Solid Waste: Garbage, Recycling, and Bulky Trash Schedules, City of Miami: About Mini Dump and Bulky Trash. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Miami. Miami-Dade operates two Home Chemical Collection Centers, accepting household hazardous waste from county residents free of charge: paint, motor oil, pesticides, pool chemicals, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and old electronics with batteries. Locations and hours are at miamidade.gov.
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 use the free options or need same-week service, LoadUp offers professional removal in Miami-Dade with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal, rates typically 20-30% below national competitors.
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 Miami with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Miami proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Miami 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 Miami: mattress, couch, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Miami pick up refrigerators for free?
Yes, free, weekly, with the door removed.
Where can I donate a refrigerator in Miami?
Miami’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 Miami?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single refrigerator pickup in Miami starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who can’t use the free options or need same-week service, LoadUp offers professional removal in Miami-Dade with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal, rates typically 20-30% below national competitors.
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 Miami page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Miami guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.