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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in Minneapolis, verified October 2026.
Checked against Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling
2 + 2
large items every week: 2 on garbage day, 2 recyclable items on recycling day
'For Solid Waste'
tag every large item with that note
6 + 2
cleanup vouchers and tire vouchers a year for the South Transfer Station
Every route for a washer or dryer in Minneapolis, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Minneapolis guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Minneapolis, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Minneapolis weekly large item collection: washers and dryers
FreeWashers and dryers go out on recycling day as recyclable large items.
Who qualifies: Residential buildings with fewer than 4 units served by Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling. Larger buildings use private haulers.
How to schedule: No appointment. Each week you can set out 2 large non-recyclable items (furniture, carpet) on garbage day and 2 large recyclable items (appliances, mattresses, electronics, metal) on recycling day, next to your carts, each tagged with a note reading 'For Solid Waste'. Call 612-673-2917 with questions.
Limits: 2 non-recyclable items on garbage day plus 2 recyclable items on recycling day, every week. Customers also get 6 cleanup vouchers and 2 tire vouchers a year for the South Transfer Station.
Set-out: At your alley or curb collection point by 6 a.m. on the right day, tagged 'For Solid Waste'. Couches under 6 feet, no hide-a-beds on garbage day (those go on recycling day). Cover mattresses from rain.
Donation pickup in Minneapolis (usable washers and dryers)
FreeMinneapolis’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 Minneapolis: 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 Minneapolis: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Minneapolis quietly runs one of the most generous bulk pickup systems of any major U.S. city: up to 2 large items per week, every week, free, with no annual cap. The catch is the “For Solid Waste” note rule, if you don’t attach a label, crews may not collect. Mattresses and appliances must go out on recycling week, while furniture goes on garbage week. Plus you get up to 6 free cleanup vouchers per year at the South Transfer Station for additional disposal. Minneapolis also has the unusual ABE/CD recycling rotation (not a simple A/B), and bagging yard waste in regular plastic bags is illegal under Minnesota state law. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Minneapolis rule for washers and dryers: Washers and dryers go out on recycling day as recyclable large items.
Program basics: 2 non-recyclable items on garbage day plus 2 recyclable items on recycling day, every week. Customers also get 6 cleanup vouchers and 2 tire vouchers a year for the South Transfer Station. At your alley or curb collection point by 6 a.m. on the right day, tagged 'For Solid Waste'. Couches under 6 feet, no hide-a-beds on garbage day (those go on recycling day). Cover mattresses from rain.
What the city will not take: Tires (voucher at the South Transfer Station), construction and demolition debris, paving materials, items that held hazardous waste, and anything from a business.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Minneapolis: South Transfer Station drop-off items and fees (vouchers), City of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling fact sheet (large item collection), City of Minneapolis: Large items. 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, exceed both the 2-per-week curbside limit AND the 6 annual cleanup vouchers, or live in 5+ unit buildings (where city service doesn’t apply), LoadUp offers professional removal in Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Minneapolis proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis: mattress, couch, refrigerator, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Minneapolis pick up washers and dryers for free?
Yes, on recycling day, tagged.
Where can I donate a washer or dryer in Minneapolis?
Minneapolis’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 Minneapolis?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in Minneapolis 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, exceed both the 2-per-week curbside limit AND the 6 annual cleanup vouchers, or live in 5+ unit buildings (where city service doesn’t apply), LoadUp offers professional removal in Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Minneapolis guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.