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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in Philadelphia, verified October 2026.
Checked against Philadelphia Sanitation
2
compactible large items per week with regular trash, no appointment
4
items per Residential Bulk Collection appointment
6
Sanitation Convenience Centers, free with proof of residency
Every route for a washer or dryer in Philadelphia, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Philadelphia guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Philadelphia, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Philadelphia curbside large items and Residential Bulk Collection: washers and dryers
Free, with a step firstWashers and dryers are major appliances for the bulk appointment program, not the curb. Disconnect hoses and the vent first.
Who qualifies: Households with city trash collection (generally buildings of 6 or fewer units). Larger buildings use private haulers.
How to schedule: Two paths. Compactible furniture (sofas, chairs, bagged mattresses) goes out with regular trash, up to 2 items a week, no appointment. Appliances, TVs, and tires use the Residential Bulk Collection Program: book an appointment through the Sanitation website or 311, up to 4 items per appointment, collected from your regular trash spot.
Limits: 2 compactible large items per household per week at the curb. 4 items per bulk collection appointment. Sanitation Convenience Centers take up to 2 appliances and 4 tires per day with proof of residency.
Set-out: Set items at your regular trash pickup spot on trash day (after 7 p.m. the night before). Mattresses and box springs must be sealed in plastic mattress bags. Keep sidewalks passable.
Residential Bulk Collection appointment: washers and dryers
FreeUp to 4 items per appointment.
Where: Picked up from your regular trash location
How it works: Book through the Department of Sanitation website or 311. Up to 4 items per appointment. Refrigerators must be empty with doors removed; tires must have rims removed and 4 tires count as one item. Sanitation calls if weather forces a reschedule.
Donation pickup in Philadelphia (usable washers and dryers)
FreePhiladelphia’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 Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Philadelphia’s bulk pickup landscape changed materially in 2024. After more than a decade with no curbside bulk service, the city restored the program in September 2024 as part of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s One Philly, United City Cleaning Initiative. Combined with the six Sanitation Convenience Centers and the new twice-a-week trash pilot, Philly residents have more options today than they’ve had in years. This page walks through every one.
The Philadelphia rule for washers and dryers: Washers and dryers are major appliances for the bulk appointment program, not the curb. Disconnect hoses and the vent first.
Program basics: 2 compactible large items per household per week at the curb. 4 items per bulk collection appointment. Sanitation Convenience Centers take up to 2 appliances and 4 tires per day with proof of residency. Set items at your regular trash pickup spot on trash day (after 7 p.m. the night before). Mattresses and box springs must be sealed in plastic mattress bags. Keep sidewalks passable.
What the city will not take: Electronics (banned from trash under Pennsylvania law), appliances and large metal items without a bulk appointment, tires without an appointment, construction debris, and household hazardous waste.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Philadelphia Department of Sanitation: Residential trash and recycling rules, City of Philadelphia: Residential Bulk Collection Program announcement (September 2024), City of Philadelphia: Sanitation Convenience Centers. 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 can’t wait for the next available bulk appointment, have items the city won’t take, or live in apartment buildings over 6 units, LoadUp offers professional removal in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Philadelphia proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia: mattress, couch, refrigerator, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Philadelphia pick up washers and dryers for free?
Yes, free, with a bulk collection appointment booked through the Sanitation website or 311.
Where can I donate a washer or dryer in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia’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 Philadelphia?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in Philadelphia 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 next available bulk appointment, have items the city won’t take, or live in apartment buildings over 6 units, LoadUp offers professional removal in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Philadelphia guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.