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A public resource guide
Free scrap metal removal in Reno, NV
Every free and paid way to get rid of scrap metal in Reno, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Reno
Home › By item › Scrap metal › Reno
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of scrap metal in Reno, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Reno
Free trips
to WM transfer stations included in Reno service, about a pickup load each; confirm your yearly allotment
775-329-8822
WM Northern Nevada, to confirm allotments and bulky pickup options
Spring and fall
free City of Reno ward cleanup events with WM bins for bulky and yard waste
Every route for scrap metal in Reno, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Reno guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Reno, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Reno bulky waste options (Waste Management): scrap metal
Confirm with WM firstScrap yards take metal free and may pay.
Who qualifies: Reno households with WM franchise cart service.
How to schedule: Reno's WM contract includes free transfer station trips (about 3 cubic yards each, a pickup load) and excess waste stickers each year rather than a routine curbside bulky day; call WM at 775-329-8822 to confirm your current allotment and to ask about a bulky item pickup. The city also runs free ward cleanup events each spring and fall with WM bins.
Limits: Transfer station trips: about a pickup load each, with proof of Reno residency and an active WM account. Cleanup events end when the bins fill.
Set-out: Only for a pickup WM has confirmed; otherwise bulky items at the curb are a code issue.
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 Reno: 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 scrap metal, 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 Reno: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Reno, Nevada (#78 nationally) is served by Waste Management (WM) of Northern Nevada under exclusive franchise agreement, distinct from the Republic Services system that covers southern Nevada (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas). Reno residential customers receive 4 free trips per year to WM transfer stations (Commercial Row or Stead), with each trip good for one standard pickup truck load (3 cubic yards). 20 excess waste stickers are provided annually for overflow trash beyond cart capacity. Lockwood Landfill accepts one bulky item per household at no cost Monday to Saturday. WM provides service on all federal holidays in Reno (a key advantage). HHW is handled through GrayMar Environmental with annual vouchers mailed in July bills. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Reno residents.
The Reno rule for scrap metal: Scrap yards take metal free and may pay.
Program basics: Transfer station trips: about a pickup load each, with proof of Reno residency and an active WM account. Cleanup events end when the bins fill. Only for a pickup WM has confirmed; otherwise bulky items at the curb are a code issue.
What the city will not take: Tires, Freon appliances, batteries, paint, oil, chemicals, construction debris, rock and dirt, and carpet are excluded from WM bulky pickups; many are accepted at the transfer stations for a fee.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Reno: Recycling and waste (WM franchise services), 2News: Reno fall cleanup events for bulky waste (September 2026). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Reno. WM partners with GrayMar Environmental for residential HHW disposal. The voucher program is unusual and convenient: free disposal once per year for accumulated HHW items.
Why scrap metal are different from ordinary bulk. Most household scrap is mixed. An appliance is a steel shell around a copper motor and aluminum fins; a bike is a steel or aluminum frame with rubber and plastic. Yards accept mixed items at the steel rate, so sorting pays only if you have enough non-ferrous metal to make it worth the time. A magnet and ten minutes usually tells you.
Three mistakes that get scrap metal left at the curb:
Paid options barely exist for metal, except when the metal is attached to things that are not metal.
Mixed loads to a transfer station
$20 to $60If metal is mixed into a larger cleanout, transfer stations charge by weight for the whole load. Pull the metal out first and give it to a scrapper; it reduces the fee and keeps metal out of the landfill.
Most transfer stations have a free metal pile. Ask before you tip.
LoadUp paid scrap metal pickup
$80+For Reno households needing in-home pickup, items beyond your free WM allowances, or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multi-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Reno-Sparks area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your scrap metal. 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 scrap metal pickup in Reno with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Reno proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Reno junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national scrap metal disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Reno: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Reno pick up scrap metal for free?
Scrap yard, free or paid.
How much does paid scrap metal removal cost in Reno?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single scrap metal pickup in Reno starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Reno households needing in-home pickup, items beyond your free WM allowances, or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multi-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Reno-Sparks area for upfront-priced pickup.
Will someone pick up scrap metal for free?
Yes. Independent scrappers in every metro collect appliances, grills, frames, and other metal from the curb free, usually the same day you post it, because they sell it by weight. Many city bulk programs also collect metal.
How much does a scrap yard pay?
Steel pays a few cents per pound; a washer or water heater might bring a few dollars. Aluminum pays several times more, and copper and brass pay the most, often a few dollars per pound. Prices change weekly with commodity markets.
How do I tell what kind of metal I have?
Use a magnet. If it sticks, the metal is ferrous (steel or iron) and pays the base rate. If it does not, it is aluminum, copper, brass, or stainless and worth sorting out. Copper is reddish, brass is yellow, aluminum is light and silver, stainless is heavy and silver.
Can I scrap a refrigerator or air conditioner?
Yes, but the refrigerant must be recovered first by a certified technician or by the yard if it has recovery equipment. Do not cut the lines. Many yards accept sealed units and recover the gas themselves; call first.
Is this Reno page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Reno guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.