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A public resource guide
Free water heater removal in Anchorage, AK
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Anchorage, verified October 2026.
Checked against Anchorage SWS
Home › By item › Water heater › Anchorage
A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Anchorage, verified October 2026.
Checked against Anchorage SWS
$0
free curbside bulky pickups; SWS schedules paid Saturday pickups for its customers
$48.50
to dispose of a refrigerator or freezer at CTS or the landfill ($28.50 refrigerant plus $20)
CTS
Central Transfer Station, 1310 E. 56th Ave, takes household bulky loads by weight
By weight
Central Transfer Station, by weight
Every route for a water heater in Anchorage, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Anchorage guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Anchorage, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Anchorage bulky item disposal: water heaters
Pickup or drop-off, fees applyDrained, to CTS or the landfill by weight.
Who qualifies: Households in the Municipality of Anchorage. Solid Waste Services (SWS) collects curbside refuse in its service area; Alaska Waste serves most other neighborhoods. Neither includes free bulky pickup.
How to schedule: SWS curbside customers can ask about a scheduled bulk item pickup (Saturdays, by appointment, 907-343-6250; fees apply). Everyone else self-hauls to the Central Transfer Station (1310 E. 56th Ave) or the Anchorage Regional Landfill in Eagle River, which charge by weight plus per-item fees for refrigerant appliances and tires.
Limits: Transfer station loads must be covered. Refrigerators and freezers: $28.50 refrigerant fee plus $20 disposal. More than one TV per day goes to the landfill's e-waste facility. More than 10 tires must go to the landfill.
Set-out: Nothing at the curb without a confirmed SWS or Alaska Waste pickup. Loose bulky items at the curb are a code issue and attract wildlife.
Central Transfer Station (CTS): water heaters
By weightRecycled as metal.
Where: 1310 E. 56th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99518
How it works: Open to household vehicles from the whole Municipality; fees by weight with a minimum. Appliances (refrigerant units $28.50 plus $20), tires (up to 10), one TV per day, and a free household hazardous waste drop-off (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) plus a ReUse Store.
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 Anchorage: 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 water heaters, 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 Anchorage: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Anchorage, Alaska’s waste system reflects its unique environment: two major haulers serve different parts of the municipality (Solid Waste Services / SWS for the municipal service area, Alaska Waste for surrounding areas), bear-resistant cart storage is a real concern, and bulk pickup happens by appointment on Saturdays for additional charges. The annual Citywide Cleanup in May provides free dump capacity at participating landfills with orange bag distribution at city locations. Winter and summer collection patterns differ. This guide covers every option for Anchorage Municipality residents.
The Anchorage rule for water heaters: Drained, to CTS or the landfill by weight.
Program basics: Transfer station loads must be covered. Refrigerators and freezers: $28.50 refrigerant fee plus $20 disposal. More than one TV per day goes to the landfill's e-waste facility. More than 10 tires must go to the landfill. Nothing at the curb without a confirmed SWS or Alaska Waste pickup. Loose bulky items at the curb are a code issue and attract wildlife.
What the city will not take: TVs, computers, and monitors are never collected curbside. Hazardous waste goes to the HHW programs at the transfer station and landfill.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Municipality of Anchorage Solid Waste Services: How Do I Dispose of These Items, Municipality of Anchorage SWS: Disposal Information (transfer station and landfill). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why water heaters are different from ordinary bulk. The weight problem is entirely water. People try to tip a tank that has not fully drained and discover that 30 remaining gallons weigh 250 pounds. Sediment at the bottom can also clog the drain valve, leaving the tank heavier than it looks. Flushing with the cold supply on for a minute often clears it.
Three mistakes that get water heaters left at the curb:
Paid options come into play for basement tanks with difficult stairs, heat pump units, and situations where no replacement is being installed.
Self-haul to a transfer station or scrap yard
Free to $15A drained tank lies flat in a pickup bed or a large SUV. Scrap yards take them free; transfer stations may charge a small bulky item fee.
Strap it down. An empty tank rolls.
LoadUp paid water heater pickup
$80+For Anchorage households needing same-week or in-home pickup, crew labor, or items that exceed what SWS bulk pickup will accept, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Anchorage area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your water heater. 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 water heater pickup in Anchorage with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Anchorage proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Anchorage junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national water heater disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Anchorage: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Anchorage pick up water heaters for free?
CTS or the landfill by weight.
How much does paid water heater removal cost in Anchorage?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single water heater pickup in Anchorage starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Anchorage households needing same-week or in-home pickup, crew labor, or items that exceed what SWS bulk pickup will accept, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Anchorage area for upfront-priced pickup.
How do I drain a water heater before disposal?
Turn off the gas or the breaker and shut the cold water supply. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve and run it to a floor drain or outside. Open a hot tap upstairs and the T&P valve to let air in. When the flow stops, open the cold supply briefly to flush sediment, then close it and let the tank finish draining. Expect 20 to 40 minutes for a 50 gallon tank.
Can a water heater go out with bulk trash?
In most cities, yes, as long as it is drained. Some cities treat it as an appliance with its own appointment. Check the local rule in the directory below.
Will a scrap yard pay for an old water heater?
Usually a few dollars for the steel, more for a tankless unit with a copper heat exchanger. Most yards require the tank to be fully drained and some ask that the drain valve be removed.
Is there anything hazardous in a water heater?
Standard gas and electric tanks contain no refrigerant or regulated materials. Heat pump water heaters contain refrigerant in the compressor and must be handled like a refrigerator. The glass lining and the magnesium or aluminum anode rod are inert.
Is this Anchorage page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Anchorage guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.