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A public resource guide
Free washer and dryer removal in San Diego, CA
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in San Diego, verified October 2026.
Checked against San Diego ESD
Home › By item › Washer and dryer › San Diego
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in San Diego, verified October 2026.
Checked against San Diego ESD
0
free curbside bulky pickups; the city program was paused in June 2026
$0
mattress and box spring drop-off at Miramar, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free
household hazardous waste drop-off at Miramar, by appointment, city residents
Standard landfill fee by vehicle and load
Miramar Landfill and Recycling Center, standard landfill fee by vehicle and load
Every route for a washer or dryer in San Diego, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full San Diego guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in San Diego, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
City of San Diego curbside bulky item pickup: washers and dryers
Not collectedNo curbside pickup. Scrap yards usually take washers and dryers free; Miramar charges a fee.
Why: All bulky items, since there is no curbside program. Electronics and hazardous waste are also banned from the trash cart under California law.
Miramar Landfill and Recycling Center: washers and dryers
Standard landfill fee by vehicle and loadSelf-haul to Miramar on Convoy Street.
Where: 5180 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
How it works: Self-haul for City of San Diego residents and others. Flat-rate disposal fees by vehicle type and load; see the current fee schedule before you go. Accepts furniture, appliances, construction debris, yard waste, and appliances with refrigerant under its rules.
Donation pickup in San Diego (usable washers and dryers)
FreeSan Diego’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 San Diego: 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 San Diego: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
San Diego is unusual among major U.S. cities: the City does not provide on-demand bulky item pickup for single-family homes. Residents either self-haul to Miramar Landfill, use a private hauler, or work with their HOA on a Community Cleanup. The system also went through its biggest overhaul in 106 years on July 1, 2025, when the new Solid Waste Management Fee took effect, San Diego is no longer a free trash service. This page walks through every legitimate option.
The San Diego rule for washers and dryers: No curbside pickup. Scrap yards usually take washers and dryers free; Miramar charges a fee.
What the city will not take: All bulky items, since there is no curbside program. Electronics and hazardous waste are also banned from the trash cart under California law.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of San Diego Environmental Services: Recycling Mattresses and Box Springs (states the City does not provide bulky item pickup), City of San Diego: Miramar Landfill fee schedule and regulations, City of San Diego: Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility. 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+Because San Diego doesn’t offer city bulky pickup, paid removal is the standard option for most residents who can’t self-haul. LoadUp offers professional removal in San Diego 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 San Diego with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside San Diego proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete San Diego 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 San Diego: mattress, couch, refrigerator, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does San Diego pick up washers and dryers for free?
No. A scrap yard will usually take it free, or Miramar for a fee.
Where can I donate a washer or dryer in San Diego?
San Diego’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 San Diego?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in San Diego starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. Because San Diego doesn’t offer city bulky pickup, paid removal is the standard option for most residents who can’t self-haul. LoadUp offers professional removal in San Diego 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 San Diego page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full San Diego guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.