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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a refrigerator in St. Petersburg, verified October 2026.
Checked against St. Petersburg Sanitation
727-893-7398
or SeeClickFix, to schedule a Special Pickup before anything goes out
Free
furniture, TVs, computer equipment, and appliances on a scheduled Special Pickup
5
Brush Sites, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, free for yard waste, metals, and appliances
Every route for a refrigerator in St. Petersburg, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full St. Petersburg guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in St. Petersburg, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
St. Petersburg Special Pickup: refrigerators
Free, with a step firstStandard household appliances are collected on a scheduled Special Pickup, and the Brush Sites accept appliances free any day. Remove the door.
Who qualifies: Properties paying an active City of St. Petersburg Sanitation collection charge.
How to schedule: Request a Special Pickup through SeeClickFix (a photo speeds it up) or call 727-893-7398 before putting anything out. Furniture, TVs, computer equipment, and standard household items are picked up free; large accumulations, building materials, and brush are quoted at $25.65 per cubic yard. Set items out only on your confirmed date.
Limits: Free for ordinary household bulk items; fees for volume loads. Yard waste is not collected curbside at all.
Set-out: At your normal collection point (curb or alley) on the confirmed Special Pickup date, not before. Unscheduled items are left.
St. Petersburg Brush and Recycling Sites: refrigerators
FreeAppliances accepted.
Where: Five sites citywide, including 2500 26th Ave S (large logs); full list at stpete.org/brushsites
How it works: Daily 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for properties with an active city sanitation charge (Florida license with a city address, or ID plus a city water account). Yard waste, mixed metals, appliances, cement roofing tiles, and recyclables.
Donation pickup in St. Petersburg (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.
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 St. Petersburg: 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 St. Petersburg: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
St. Petersburg, Florida (#85 nationally) is one of the few major cities where the City Sanitation Services directly provides residential collection, not contracted to a private hauler. The City of St. Petersburg Sanitation Services serves more than 76,000 residential accounts. Trash is collected on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, OR Friday depending on your zone, there is NO Wednesday trash collection. Bi-weekly recycling runs on a 8-zone color-coded system. Special bulky pickup is request-based: call (727) 893-7398 FIRST to schedule before placing items at the curb. The City operates 5 free brush sites open 7 days/week 9 AM-5:30 PM. HHW is handled at the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex. This guide covers every disposal option for City of St. Petersburg residents.
The St. Petersburg rule for refrigerators: Standard household appliances are collected on a scheduled Special Pickup, and the Brush Sites accept appliances free any day. Remove the door.
Program basics: Free for ordinary household bulk items; fees for volume loads. Yard waste is not collected curbside at all. At your normal collection point (curb or alley) on the confirmed Special Pickup date, not before. Unscheduled items are left.
What the city will not take: Hazardous waste, liquids, commercial waste, and yard waste (five free Brush Sites instead).
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of St. Petersburg Sanitation: Special Pickup, City of St. Petersburg: Brush and Recycling Sites. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in St. Petersburg. All commercial and residential garbage that is generated in Pinellas County is sent to the Solid Waste Disposal Complex (SWDC) in St. Petersburg, managed by Pinellas County Solid Waste, which includes a Waste-to-Energy Facility and landfill. HHW is handled at the SWDC for Pinellas County residents.
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 St. Petersburg households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multi-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Tampa Bay 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 St. Petersburg with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside St. Petersburg proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg: mattress, couch, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does St. Petersburg pick up refrigerators for free?
Yes, after scheduling, door removed; or free at a Brush Site.
Where can I donate a refrigerator in St. Petersburg?
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 St. Petersburg?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single refrigerator pickup in St. Petersburg starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For St. Petersburg households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multi-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Tampa Bay 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 St. Petersburg page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full St. Petersburg guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.