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A public resource guide
Free washer and dryer removal in Durham, NC
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in Durham, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Durham
Home › By item › Washer and dryer › Durham
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in Durham, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Durham
3
bulky items per week, by request at durhamnc.gov/855 or 919-560-1200
6 a.m.
out at the curb on your scheduled day
Free
electronics, appliances, and up to 5 tires at the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center
Every route for a washer or dryer in Durham, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Durham guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Durham, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Durham bulky item collection by request: washers and dryers
Free, with a step firstWashers and dryers are accepted by request, or free at the center.
Who qualifies: Single-family homes and city-served townhome communities with City of Durham garbage collection.
How to schedule: Bulky items are picked up by request only: schedule online at durhamnc.gov/855, through the Durham Rollout app, or by calling Durham One Call at 919-560-1200. Free for ordinary household bulky items, up to 3 per weekly collection, out with your garbage by 6 a.m.
Limits: 3 bulky items per weekly collection. No alley collection; the truck's mechanical arm needs clear access at the curb.
Set-out: At the curb by 6 a.m. on your scheduled day, 3 feet from carts and obstacles, on a street the trucks can navigate.
Durham Waste Disposal and Recycling Center: washers and dryers
FreeWhite goods accepted.
Where: 2115 E. Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27704, 919-560-1200
How it works: Residents pay $5 per passenger car or $15 per van or SUV for a trash load. Free: electronics, white goods, scrap metal, cardboard, textiles, and up to 5 tires. Fluids must be drained from lawn equipment.
Donation pickup in Durham (usable washers and dryers)
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 Durham: 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 Durham: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Durham, North Carolina (#71 nationally) is part of the Research Triangle and operates one of the more efficient bulky item programs among comparable cities. One collection per week of up to 3 bulky items is free of charge, scheduled by request via Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200. Items beyond 3 incur charges. Yard waste customers get an additional 2 free bulky brush pickups per year. Yard waste switched to a biweekly Blue Week / Red Week schedule starting August 2025 (collected the same week as your biweekly recycling). Items containing Freon must have a certification tag from a licensed technician. The City operates a Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, Yard Waste Facility, and Household Hazardous Waste Center for residents. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Durham residents.
The Durham rule for washers and dryers: Washers and dryers are accepted by request, or free at the center.
Program basics: 3 bulky items per weekly collection. No alley collection; the truck's mechanical arm needs clear access at the curb. At the curb by 6 a.m. on your scheduled day, 3 feet from carts and obstacles, on a street the trucks can navigate.
What the city will not take: Building materials, car parts, construction debris, dirt, electronics and TVs, glass and mirrors, loose leaves, propane tanks, tires, tree stumps, and wood or lumber. All of those go to the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center on East Club Boulevard.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Durham Solid Waste Management: Bulky Services (by request only), City of Durham: Disposal and Drop-Off Facilities (Waste Disposal and Recycling Center fees), City of Durham: Bulky Item Curbside Collection FAQ. 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 Durham households needing in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Triangle for upfront-priced pickup.
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 Durham with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Durham proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Durham 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 Durham: mattress, couch, refrigerator, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Durham pick up washers and dryers for free?
Yes, after scheduling, or free at the center.
Where can I donate a washer or dryer in Durham?
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 washer and dryer removal cost in Durham?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in Durham starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Durham households needing in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Triangle for upfront-priced pickup.
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 Durham page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Durham guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.