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A public resource guide
Free washer and dryer removal in Columbus, OH
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in Columbus, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Columbus
Home › By item › Washer and dryer › Columbus
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in Columbus, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Columbus
311
or 614-645-3111: nothing is collected without a scheduled request
Free
for furniture, mattresses, carpet, and non-refrigerant appliances
2
free Waste and Reuse Convenience Centers (Alum Creek Dr and Georgesville Rd)
Every route for a washer or dryer in Columbus, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Columbus guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Columbus, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
City of Columbus scheduled bulk collection: washers and dryers
Free, with a step firstWashing machines are the city's own example of an accepted non-refrigerant appliance. Schedule through 311 and disconnect hoses.
Who qualifies: Homes that get City of Columbus refuse collection (the city cart). Larger apartment complexes use private haulers.
How to schedule: Nothing is collected without a request. Schedule online at 311.columbus.gov or call 311 (614-645-3111); you get a specific collection day. Waits of a week or two are common.
Limits: No published pile limit, but items must be listed on the request. Rolled carpet must be cut to about 4 feet and tied.
Set-out: On your scheduled day only. Curb-collected homes put items in front of the house; alley-collected homes put them at the alley line on the edge of the property, clear of obstructions. Never put bulk items in the cart.
Donation pickup in Columbus (usable washers and dryers)
FreeColumbus’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 Columbus: 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 Columbus: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Columbus runs a strict but well-organized system: bulk pickup is free, but you MUST schedule it first through 311. Items placed at the curb without a scheduled appointment will not be collected and may be tagged as a code violation. Columbus also rolled out weekly curbside recycling citywide in June 2023, a major upgrade from the old biweekly model, and yard waste runs biweekly on a Zone A or Zone B rotation. SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio) contracts with EEI for free household hazardous waste disposal for all Franklin County residents. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Columbus rule for washers and dryers: Washing machines are the city's own example of an accepted non-refrigerant appliance. Schedule through 311 and disconnect hoses.
Program basics: No published pile limit, but items must be listed on the request. Rolled carpet must be cut to about 4 feet and tied. On your scheduled day only. Curb-collected homes put items in front of the house; alley-collected homes put them at the alley line on the edge of the property, clear of obstructions. Never put bulk items in the cart.
What the city will not take: Refrigerated appliances of any kind (refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, water coolers, heat pumps), auto parts and tires, electronics, hazardous materials, construction and building materials, and eviction or foreclosure set-outs.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Columbus Refuse Collection: Bulk Collection. 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-day service, have items the City won’t accept (Freon appliances, electronics, construction debris), can’t wait for a scheduled bulk appointment, or live in larger buildings without included bulk service, LoadUp offers professional removal in Columbus 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 Columbus with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Columbus proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Columbus 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 Columbus: mattress, couch, refrigerator, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Columbus pick up washers and dryers for free?
Yes, free, after scheduling through 311.
Where can I donate a washer or dryer in Columbus?
Columbus’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 Columbus?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in Columbus starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-day service, have items the City won’t accept (Freon appliances, electronics, construction debris), can’t wait for a scheduled bulk appointment, or live in larger buildings without included bulk service, LoadUp offers professional removal in Columbus 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 Columbus page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Columbus guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.