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A public resource guide

Free refrigerator removal in Salt Lake City, UT

Door removed or taped shut.

Roll-off container loaded with old furniture and household items Checked against Salt Lake City

1 + 1

free Call 2 Haul pickups a year: one bulk waste, one green waste

8x4x4 ft

maximum pile, about a pickup-truck bed, mattresses set apart

If it plugs in

it qualifies: TVs, computers, and refrigerators are all accepted

Every route for a refrigerator in Salt Lake City, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Salt Lake City guide covers every other item.

Free refrigerator removal in Salt Lake City

Here is how each route works in Salt Lake City, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.

Salt Lake City Call 2 Haul: refrigerators

Free

Refrigerators and other coolant appliances are accepted; the city removes the coolant and recycles the metal. Remove the door or tape it shut.

Who qualifies: Households with Salt Lake City residential curbside garbage service (you need your Public Utilities account number).

How to schedule: Schedule online at slc.gov/sustainability/call-2-haul or call 801-535-6999 (Monday to Friday, 8 to 5). Two scheduled pickups a year are included: one bulk waste pickup and one green waste pickup. Pickup lands on a scheduled day between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Limits: One bulk pickup and one green waste pickup per year. Pile about 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 4 feet high (a pickup-truck bed). Larger loads go to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill or a private hauler. Up to 4 automobile tires.

Set-out: At the curb on your scheduled date, 5 feet from hydrants, trees, poles, mailboxes, and walls, with 10 feet of open space on each side, mattresses set apart from the pile, breakables not stacked.

Read the full Salt Lake City city services guide ›

Donation pickup in Salt Lake City (usable refrigerators)

Free

Salt Lake City has several donation organizations, including one unique to Utah:

Deseret Industries, a nonprofit thrift and job-training program operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Multiple Salt Lake City and metro locations accept furniture, clothing, appliances, and household goods. Free drop-off and some areas offer pickup coordination. Very high volume, wide acceptance of usable items.

See the Salt Lake City donation section ›

Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)

Free

Freemoval 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 Salt Lake City: 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 Salt Lake City: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.

For partners ›

How Salt Lake City handles refrigerators

Salt Lake City operates one of the more resident-friendly bulk waste programs in the Mountain West. The free Call 2 Haul program gives every residential garbage customer two free scheduled bulk waste pickups per year, year-round on demand, with no zone rotation or appointment windows. The city also operates a mandatory 4-cart recycling and compost system with weekly collection. This guide covers every legitimate disposal option for Salt Lake City residents, including the program-specific details that distinguish SLC from surrounding cities (Salt Lake County, West Valley City, Murray, and Millcreek all have separate waste programs).

The Salt Lake City rule for refrigerators: Refrigerators and other coolant appliances are accepted; the city removes the coolant and recycles the metal. Remove the door or tape it shut.

Program basics: One bulk pickup and one green waste pickup per year. Pile about 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 4 feet high (a pickup-truck bed). Larger loads go to the Salt Lake Valley Landfill or a private hauler. Up to 4 automobile tires. At the curb on your scheduled date, 5 feet from hydrants, trees, poles, mailboxes, and walls, with 10 feet of open space on each side, mattresses set apart from the pile, breakables not stacked.

What the city will not take: Construction debris, household hazardous waste, large truck tires, and city-owned tree trimmings. Call 2 Haul is not a pile program for unlimited waste.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Salt Lake City Sustainability: Call 2 Haul bulk waste collection, Salt Lake City: Bulk item collection (what Call 2 Haul accepts), Salt Lake City: Material set-out guidelines. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.

Hazardous and regulated components in Salt Lake City. Household hazardous waste (paint, motor oil, batteries, chemicals, pesticides) is handled through Salt Lake County, not the City of Salt Lake City. Contact Salt Lake County Health Department at (385) 468-3862 for disposal locations and event schedules. Do not put HHW in Call 2 Haul, the garbage cart, or the recycling cart.

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.

Prep checklist before pickup day in Salt Lake City

Three mistakes that get refrigerators left at the curb:

  • Don’t put a refrigerator at the curb without checking the rules. Most cities require either certified drainage tag, doors removed, or both. Crews will leave non-compliant units, and code enforcement notices may follow.
  • Don’t try to drain the refrigerant yourself. Federal law (Clean Air Act Section 608) makes it ILLEGAL for non-certified individuals to release or attempt to release refrigerant. Penalties include $25,000+ per violation.
  • Don’t leave doors attached. Federal child entrapment safety rule from 1956 requires doors removed or secured open before disposal. Even if your city doesn’t enforce this, removing doors is a 5-minute task that prevents a child fatality risk.

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 Salt Lake City households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have already used their Call 2 Haul allotment, are clearing a full room or property, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Salt Lake City area.

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 Salt Lake City with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.

Refrigerator rules in nearby cities

Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Salt Lake City proper, start with the guide for your own city:

Seasonal cleanup dumpsters or SUVSWD transfer station (suvswd.org). Retailer haul-away. Freon recovery required.
Free curbside on regular collection day. Akron handles refrigerant recovery through the salvage chain, no resident fee. Retailer haul-away with new delivery is…
Free Large Item Pick-Up. Empty all food, tape doors shut for child safety. Many appliance retailers offer free haul-away with delivery.
Free curbside on second collection night. EPA Section 608 federal rules require refrigerant removal by a certified technician before disposal to don’t set out…
Republic Services bulky pickup with small refrigerant fee. Retailer haul-away with new delivery. North OC HHW for refrigerant management.
SWS Saturday bulk pickup (fee). Anchorage Regional Landfill (tipping fees). Retailer haul-away with new delivery. Freon recovery required.

Related guides: the complete Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City: mattress, couch, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.

Common questions about refrigerator removal in Salt Lake City

Does Salt Lake City pick up refrigerators for free?

Yes, free, with your Call 2 Haul pickup. Door removed or taped shut.

Where can I donate a refrigerator in Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has several donation organizations, including one unique to Utah:

How much does paid refrigerator removal cost in Salt Lake City?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single refrigerator pickup in Salt Lake City starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Salt Lake City households who need same-day or in-home pickup, have already used their Call 2 Haul allotment, are clearing a full room or property, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Salt Lake City area.

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 Salt Lake City page maintained?

Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Salt Lake City guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.

Fund a free pickup in Salt Lake City

Help cover someone else’s haul.

Most LoadUp customers fund Freemoval pickups by rounding up at checkout. If you’re not booking a paid pickup yourself but want to help, you can contribute directly, pooled with other donations to fund subsidized pickups in Salt Lake City at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer.

Choose a custom amount→

Freemoval is a social impact program of LoadUp Technologies, LLC. Contributions are not tax-deductible. 100% of contributions fund pickups at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer. No separate fundraising overhead is deducted from donations.