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A public resource guide
Free washer and dryer removal in Austin, TX
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in Austin, verified October 2026.
Checked against Austin Resource Recovery
Home › By item › Washer and dryer › Austin
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in Austin, verified October 2026.
Checked against Austin Resource Recovery
3
on-demand bulk collections per calendar year, scheduled online or through 3-1-1
3 piles
metal, tires, and everything else, in place by 5:30 a.m.
8
passenger tires per collection, rims removed
Every route for a washer or dryer in Austin, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Austin guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Austin, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Austin Resource Recovery on-demand bulk collection: washers and dryers
FreeWashers and dryers are accepted appliances with no refrigerant issue. They go in the metal pile.
Who qualifies: Austin Resource Recovery curbside customers: single-family homes up to fourplexes. Larger complexes contract their own haulers.
How to schedule: Since January 2025 bulk is collected on demand, not on fixed weeks. Schedule through austintexas.gov or 3-1-1, up to 3 bulk collections per calendar year (brush, household hazardous waste, and textiles each have their own 3). Extra collections are available for a fee.
Limits: 3 bulk collections a year. Items are sorted into three piles at the curb: metal, passenger tires (rims off, up to 8), and everything else.
Set-out: Put items at the curb only on your scheduled date, in place by 5:30 a.m., in three separate piles, clear of cars, poles, and meters. Material left out before the date is an illegal dumping issue.
Donation pickup in Austin (usable washers and dryers)
FreeAustin’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 Austin: 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 washers and dryers, 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 Austin: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Austin’s bulk system changed materially in January 2025, Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) moved from a predetermined biannual schedule to on-demand collection with up to 3 appointments per service type per calendar year. New on-demand household hazardous waste pickup launched the same day. This page walks through every option in order from free to paid, including the strict 5+ unit cutoff that excludes most apartment buildings.
The Austin rule for washers and dryers: Washers and dryers are accepted appliances with no refrigerant issue. They go in the metal pile.
Program basics: 3 bulk collections a year. Items are sorted into three piles at the curb: metal, passenger tires (rims off, up to 8), and everything else. Put items at the curb only on your scheduled date, in place by 5:30 a.m., in three separate piles, clear of cars, poles, and meters. Material left out before the date is an illegal dumping issue.
What the city will not take: Brush (separate service), cardboard, construction and remodeling debris including sheet glass, tile, and mirrors, carpet from construction, hazardous materials, household trash, tires still on rims, and vehicles, boats, and trailers.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Austin Resource Recovery Administrative Rules (Chapter 15-6), on-demand bulk and brush guidelines, Austin American-Statesman summary of ARR's accepted and not-accepted bulk items (August 2026). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why washers and dryers are different from ordinary bulk. Washers and dryers sit in an unusual middle ground. They are not hazardous like a refrigerator (no refrigerant to recover under EPA Section 608), so most city bulk programs accept them without a special fee. But they are heavy enough that many programs set weight or two-person-lift limits, and a front-loader with a concrete counterweight can exceed 230 pounds.
Three mistakes that get washers and dryers left at the curb:
When the machine is in a basement with no walkout, the retailer will not take it, or you need it gone this week, paid options fill the gap.
Self-haul to a transfer station or scrap yard
Free to $25If you own or can borrow a truck and an appliance dolly, most county transfer stations and all scrap yards accept washers and dryers. Transfer stations may charge a small appliance fee; scrap yards do not.
Two people and a strapped dolly are the minimum for stairs. A front-loader's counterweight makes it top-heavy.
Call ahead about hours and whether the facility wants the unit upright.
LoadUp paid washer or dryer pickup
$80+For households who need same-week service, exceed 3 annual ARR collections, or live in 5+ unit buildings (excluded from city pickup), LoadUp offers professional removal in Austin with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your washer or dryer. 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 washer or dryer pickup in Austin with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Austin proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Austin junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national washer and dryer disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Austin: mattress, couch, refrigerator, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Austin pick up washers and dryers for free?
Yes, with an on-demand bulk collection, in the metal pile.
Where can I donate a washer or dryer in Austin?
Austin’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 washer and dryer removal cost in Austin?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in Austin starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-week service, exceed 3 annual ARR collections, or live in 5+ unit buildings (excluded from city pickup), LoadUp offers professional removal in Austin with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
Can I put a washer or dryer out with my regular trash?
Almost never in the regular cart, but most cities with a bulk or large-item program will take laundry machines at the curb on a scheduled day. Check your city’s rules in the directory below; some require an appliance-specific appointment.
Is there anything hazardous inside a washer or dryer?
No refrigerant and nothing regulated under EPA Section 608. The only cautions are a possible gas connection on dryers, the 240V electrical cord, and residual water in a washer. Some older washers have a small capacitor on the motor, which scrap yards handle routinely.
How much does a washer or dryer weigh?
Top-load washers run 150 to 180 pounds, front-loaders 180 to 230 pounds because of the concrete counterweight, and dryers 100 to 150 pounds. Stacked units should be separated before moving.
Will a scrap yard pay me for an old washer?
Usually a few dollars. Scrap steel prices fluctuate, and a washer yields roughly 100 to 150 pounds of mixed steel plus a copper-wound motor. Many people find the free pickup more valuable than the payout and simply list the machine as free scrap.
Is this Austin page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Austin guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.