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A public resource guide
Scrap yard or Wake County facility.
Checked against City of Raleigh
$35
per Bulky Load (furniture, mattresses), up to 4 cubic yards, since April 2026
$70
per Special Load (appliances, exercise equipment)
Free
E-waste pickup, up to 4 items a week, by request
Every route for a washer or dryer in Raleigh, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Raleigh guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Raleigh, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Raleigh Bulky Load, Special Load, and E-waste collection: washers and dryers
City pickup, $35 or $70 per loadWashers and dryers are Special Load items at $70, or free at a scrap yard or Wake County facility.
Who qualifies: Households with City of Raleigh curbside garbage service. Not available to businesses.
How to schedule: Call 919-996-3245 with your address and a description of the items; staff classify it as a Bulky Load ($35 per 4 cubic yards, since April 1, 2026), a Special Load ($70 per 4 cubic yards, for appliances and exercise equipment), or free E-waste collection (up to 4 items a week). The charge lands on your next utility bill.
Limits: A load is 4 cubic yards (about 6 by 3 by 4 feet, two couches, or three queen mattresses), charged in full-load increments. No limit on the number of loads. E-waste: 4 items per week.
Set-out: At the curb on the scheduled day only, on a flat area, 5 feet from mailboxes, poles, and cars, on the main street (no alleys). Items out before scheduling can draw fines under the city code. Cancel by noon the business day before for a refund.
Wake County convenience centers and multi-material facilities: washers and dryers
FreeAppliances accepted.
Where: 11 convenience centers plus the North Wake and South Wake facilities; locations at wake.gov
How it works: Open daily with no gate fee for county residents' household items. Appliances, electronics, tires, and household hazardous waste are accepted at the multi-material facilities; check which site takes what.
Donation pickup in Raleigh (usable washers and dryers)
FreeRaleigh’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 Raleigh: 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 Raleigh: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Raleigh runs a tightly structured but generous system: one free Bulky Load (up to 4 cubic yards) every 90 days, plus free curbside e-waste collection up to 4 items per week on Tuesdays only. Critical update for 2026: a Bulky Load fee took effect April 1, 2026, so the formerly “free once every 90 days” now operates differently, check current fee structure before scheduling. Raleigh also has one of the most permissive holiday schedules in the country: only Thanksgiving causes a delay. Christmas, New Year’s, and Labor Day are all normal collection days. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Raleigh rule for washers and dryers: Washers and dryers are Special Load items at $70, or free at a scrap yard or Wake County facility.
Program basics: A load is 4 cubic yards (about 6 by 3 by 4 feet, two couches, or three queen mattresses), charged in full-load increments. No limit on the number of loads. E-waste: 4 items per week. At the curb on the scheduled day only, on a flat area, 5 feet from mailboxes, poles, and cars, on the main street (no alleys). Items out before scheduling can draw fines under the city code. Cancel by noon the business day before for a refund.
What the city will not take: Tires, car parts, batteries, glass, mirrors, windows, construction and remodeling debris of any kind including toilets, sinks, carpeting, and cabinets, treated lumber, stumps, and contractor materials. Wake County facilities take most of those.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services: Bulky, Special, and E-Waste Collection (updated October 5, 2026). 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 Bulky Load 90-day limits, live in apartment buildings without included bulk service, have items the city won’t take, or want full-service in-home pickup, LoadUp offers professional removal in Raleigh 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 Raleigh with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Raleigh proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Raleigh 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 Raleigh: mattress, couch, refrigerator, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Raleigh pick up washers and dryers for free?
Not free through the city ($70). Scrap yard or Wake County facility.
Where can I donate a washer or dryer in Raleigh?
Raleigh’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 Raleigh?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in Raleigh 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 Bulky Load 90-day limits, live in apartment buildings without included bulk service, have items the city won’t take, or want full-service in-home pickup, LoadUp offers professional removal in Raleigh 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 Raleigh page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Raleigh guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.