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A public resource guide

Free washer and dryer removal in McAllen, TX

Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in McAllen, verified October 2026.

Household items and appliances left at the curb for bulk collection Checked against McAllen Public Works

Monthly

brush and bulky week by zone (four zones), set out before Monday of your week

1 week

earliest set-out before your zone's collection date

5 tires

per month per resident at the Recycling Center, 4101 N. Bentsen Rd, free with a water bill

Every route for a washer or dryer in McAllen, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full McAllen guide covers every other item.

Free washer and dryer removal in McAllen

Here is how each route works in McAllen, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.

McAllen monthly brush and bulky collection: washers and dryers

Free

Washers and dryers are bulky items for your zone's week, or free at the Recycling Center.

Who qualifies: Single-family homes with City of McAllen garbage service (the brush and bulky fee is on your monthly bill).

How to schedule: No appointment. The city is divided into four zones, each with an assigned week of the month; the schedule is at mcallenpublicworks.net/brush. Set items at your assigned collection spot no earlier than one week before and before the Monday of your zone's week, in two separate piles: brush and bulky.

Limits: Resident-generated items only. Keep piles 3 feet from mailboxes, fences, meters, hydrants, wires, and cars. Nothing in alleys unless your bins are serviced there, and never on vacant lots.

Set-out: At the same location your black and blue carts are serviced, no earlier than one week before your zone's Monday, brush and bulky in separate piles, not in the street or near drainage inlets.

Read the full McAllen city services guide ›

McAllen Recycling Center residential drop-off: washers and dryers

Free with water bill

Appliances accepted.

Where: 4101 N. Bentsen Rd, McAllen, TX 78504, 956-681-4050

How it works: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (plus Saturday hours); bring your water bill. Residents can drop brush, scrap metal, appliances (refrigerators must be tagged by a technician showing the refrigerant was removed), and up to 5 tires a month. No construction debris, clothes, or hazardous waste.

Recycling Center rules ›

Donation pickup in McAllen (usable washers and dryers)

Free

Schedules free pickup for usable furniture and large items. Schedule online at satruck.org.

Multiple Rio Grande Valley locations including McAllen.

See the McAllen donation section ›

Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)

Free

Freemoval 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 McAllen: 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 McAllen: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.

For partners ›

How McAllen handles washers and dryers

McAllen, Texas serves a rapidly growing Rio Grande Valley metro with a monthly zone-based Brush and Bulky Trash Collection system and a year-round free drop-off site for residents. The zone system means each part of the city gets bulky pickup once per month on a rotating schedule. A free residential drop-off site at 4101 N. Bentsen Rd accepts large items, tires, and metals year-round for residents with a water bill. This guide covers every disposal option for McAllen city residents.

The McAllen rule for washers and dryers: Washers and dryers are bulky items for your zone's week, or free at the Recycling Center.

Program basics: Resident-generated items only. Keep piles 3 feet from mailboxes, fences, meters, hydrants, wires, and cars. Nothing in alleys unless your bins are serviced there, and never on vacant lots. At the same location your black and blue carts are serviced, no earlier than one week before your zone's Monday, brush and bulky in separate piles, not in the street or near drainage inlets.

What the city will not take: Hazardous materials, construction debris, tires, and electronics are not collected during brush and bulky pickup. The Recycling Center on North Bentsen takes tires (5 a month) and appliances from residents.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: McAllen Public Works: Residential Garbage Service and drop-off site, City of McAllen: Recycling Center bulky waste drop-off (tires, appliances), McAllen Public Works brush and bulky schedule reminder (zone rules). 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.

Prep checklist before pickup day in McAllen

  • Unplug the machine and, for an electric dryer, remove the 240V cord if you plan to keep it.
  • Shut the water supply valves and disconnect both hoses over a bucket. Tip a washer forward to drain the pump.
  • For a gas dryer, shut the valve, disconnect the flex line, and cap the stub. Call the utility or a plumber if unsure.
  • Separate stacked units and remove pedestals or drawers.
  • Tape the lid or door shut and use an appliance dolly with a strap for stairs.

Three mistakes that get washers and dryers left at the curb:

  • Don't move a gas dryer without capping the line. Shut the valve, disconnect, and cap the stub. If you are not confident, the utility or a plumber can cap it in minutes.
  • Don't leave water in a washer before a scheduled pickup. Tip it forward to drain the pump, especially in winter when trapped water can freeze and crack the housing.
  • Don't assume bulk pickup includes appliances. Many cities list appliances as a separate category with its own appointment line or fee.

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 $25

If 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 McAllen households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the McAllen area.

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 McAllen with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.

Washer and dryer rules in nearby cities

Rules change at city limits. If you are outside McAllen proper, start with the guide for your own city:

Bi-weekly bulk if under 35 lbs and 2 cu yd. Otherwise special pickup or LoadUp.
On-demand bulk pickup (metal pile). If working: donation pickup. Otherwise paid haul.
Twice-annual brush/bulky pickup (separate from brush). Or J.C. Elliott Collection Center.
Not accepted in regular bulk pickup. Free landfill self-haul. If working: donation pickup. Otherwise paid haul.
Closest category in the El Paso table: Fee-based curbside (doors must be removed, refrigerant removed) or retailer haul-away. CCS accepts appliances with…
Monthly bulk pile (free). Drop-Off Station alternative.

Related guides: the complete McAllen 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 McAllen: mattress, couch, refrigerator, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.

Common questions about washer and dryer removal in McAllen

Does McAllen pick up washers and dryers for free?

Yes, on your zone’s week, or the Recycling Center.

Where can I donate a washer or dryer in McAllen?

Schedules free pickup for usable furniture and large items. Schedule online at satruck.org.

How much does paid washer and dryer removal cost in McAllen?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in McAllen starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For McAllen households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the McAllen area.

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 McAllen page maintained?

Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full McAllen guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.

Fund a free pickup in McAllen

Help cover someone else’s haul.

Most LoadUp customers fund Freemoval pickups by rounding up at checkout. If you’re not booking a paid pickup yourself but want to help, you can contribute directly, pooled with other donations to fund subsidized pickups in McAllen at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer.

Choose a custom amount→

Freemoval is a social impact program of LoadUp Technologies, LLC. Contributions are not tax-deductible. 100% of contributions fund pickups at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer. No separate fundraising overhead is deducted from donations.