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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in Providence, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Providence
3
items per unit per scheduled bulky pickup, free, through the online form or 1-800-972-4545
24 hours
minimum notice before your collection day
Saturdays
free unbagged mattress drop-off at DPW, 700 Allens Ave
Every route for a washer or dryer in Providence, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Providence guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Providence, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Providence bulky item pickup (Waste Management): washers and dryers
FreeWashers and dryers are large appliances for the scheduled pickup.
Who qualifies: Buildings of 6 or fewer units with City of Providence curbside collection.
How to schedule: Schedule online with the city's Request Bulky Item Pickup form or call Waste Management at 1-800-972-4545 at least 24 hours before your collection day. Free, up to 3 items per unit per scheduled pickup. Mattresses are handled separately: unbagged mattresses and box springs are accepted at DPW, 700 Allens Ave, on Saturdays.
Limits: 3 items per unit per pickup. Only scheduled items are collected.
Set-out: At the curb no earlier than the night before your scheduled pickup, clear of carts. Crews do not enter yards or buildings.
Donation pickup in Providence (usable washers and dryers)
FreeProvidence’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 Providence: 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 Providence: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Providence runs a uniquely accessible bulk pickup system: FREE curbside bulk pickup with just 24-HOUR advance notice via Waste Management at 1-800-972-4545, up to 3 bulky items per collection day. The lead time is dramatically shorter than most major cities (Virginia Beach requires 2 weeks; San Francisco requires 2 weeks). Service is provided by Waste Management under contract with the City. Free curbside pickup of furniture, large appliances (refrigerators with Freon, washers, dryers), e-waste, and bulky waste, all at the same 3-items-per-day limit. One important fee exception: mattresses and box springs require a paid Waste Management appointment, OR Providence residents can drop off two items per resident per day FREE at the Mattress Drop-off Center on Saturdays 7 AM-12:45 PM (proof of Providence residency required). Yard waste is collected curbside on regular collection day from mid-April through mid-December, in open barrels or paper yard waste bags. Christmas trees picked up curbside during the second, third, and fourth full weeks of January. New 64-gallon trash carts arrive starting March 16, 2026, a major service change. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Providence rule for washers and dryers: Washers and dryers are large appliances for the scheduled pickup.
Program basics: 3 items per unit per pickup. Only scheduled items are collected. At the curb no earlier than the night before your scheduled pickup, clear of carts. Crews do not enter yards or buildings.
What the city will not take: Mattresses (DPW Saturday drop-off instead), construction debris, tires, and hazardous waste. Electronics go to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation's Eco-Depot and e-waste programs.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Providence DPW: Bulky Item and Large Appliance Disposal, City of Providence DPW: Bulky and Tricky Item Disposal (mattresses). 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 or in-home pickup, exceed the 3-item daily limit, can’t wait for a Saturday mattress drop-off, need construction debris removed, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp offers professional removal in Providence 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 Providence with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Providence proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Providence 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 Providence: mattress, couch, refrigerator, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Providence pick up washers and dryers for free?
Yes, with a scheduled pickup.
Where can I donate a washer or dryer in Providence?
Providence’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 Providence?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in Providence 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 or in-home pickup, exceed the 3-item daily limit, can’t wait for a Saturday mattress drop-off, need construction debris removed, or want full-service hauling, LoadUp offers professional removal in Providence 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 Providence page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Providence guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.