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A public resource guide

Free washer and dryer removal in Memphis, TN

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

Household items and appliances left at the curb for bulk collection Checked against Memphis Solid Waste

2x a month

Outside-the-Cart bulk collection on your regular day

10 cu yd

maximum pile, within 3 feet of the street

4

tires per home accepted at the curb

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

Free washer and dryer removal in Memphis

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

Memphis Outside-the-Cart bulk collection: washers and dryers

Free

Washers and dryers are Outside-the-Cart appliances. Disconnect them.

Who qualifies: Homes with City of Memphis solid waste service (the city cart). Apartment complexes use private haulers.

How to schedule: No appointment for ordinary bulk. Outside-the-Cart collection runs twice a month on your regular collection day (weeks 1 and 3 or weeks 2 and 4 depending on your address; check memphistn.gov/solid-waste, the Memphis Curbside Collection app, or 311). The city asks you to call 311 so crews know items are out.

Limits: Bulky piles no more than 10 cubic yards, within 3 feet of the street. Up to 4 tires per home per collection.

Set-out: Within 3 feet of the street, away from mailboxes, parked cars, fences, trees, and low limbs, on your Outside-the-Cart week. Keep yard waste separate from other bulk so it can be composted.

Read the full Memphis city services guide ›

Donation pickup in Memphis (usable washers and dryers)

Free

Memphis’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.

See the Memphis 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 Memphis: 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 Memphis: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.

For partners ›

How Memphis handles washers and dryers

If you live in Memphis, your bulk pickup runs on a system the city calls Outside-the-Cart, twice-monthly collection on your regular trash day. This page walks through how it works, what gets accepted, and every other free or low-cost disposal option in Shelby County.

The Memphis rule for washers and dryers: Washers and dryers are Outside-the-Cart appliances. Disconnect them.

Program basics: Bulky piles no more than 10 cubic yards, within 3 feet of the street. Up to 4 tires per home per collection. Within 3 feet of the street, away from mailboxes, parked cars, fences, trees, and low limbs, on your Outside-the-Cart week. Keep yard waste separate from other bulk so it can be composted.

What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste (Shelby County facility at 6305 Haley Rd), construction debris from contractors, and roofing. Piles over 10 cubic yards are left.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Memphis Solid Waste: Household Garbage and Outside-the-Cart rules, City of Memphis: Solid Waste Convenience Center locations. 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 Memphis

  • 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 households who can’t wait for the bi-monthly Outside-the-Cart cycle or live outside the City of Memphis service area, LoadUp offers professional removal in Memphis 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 Memphis 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 Memphis proper, start with the guide for your own city:

Free Bulk Trash pickup. Donation if working.
Free WEEKLY bulky pickup. Donation if working.
Convenience Center (1st bulk item free, fees for additional). If working: donation pickup. Otherwise paid haul.

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

Common questions about washer and dryer removal in Memphis

Does Memphis pick up washers and dryers for free?

Yes, on your Outside-the-Cart week.

Where can I donate a washer or dryer in Memphis?

Memphis’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 Memphis?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in Memphis starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who can’t wait for the bi-monthly Outside-the-Cart cycle or live outside the City of Memphis service area, LoadUp offers professional removal in Memphis 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 Memphis page maintained?

Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Memphis 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 Memphis

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 Memphis 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.