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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Fayetteville / Bentonville, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Fayetteville
5
bulky items free on your B week, the same day as yard waste
Wednesdays
metal items and appliances, scheduled by calling 910-433-1FAY
4 ft
clearance from every other object at the curb
Every route for a water heater in Fayetteville / Bentonville, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Fayetteville / Bentonville guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Fayetteville / Bentonville, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Fayetteville B-week bulky item collection: water heaters
Free, with a step firstA drained water heater is a metal item for the Wednesday collection.
Who qualifies: Single-family residential properties with City of Fayetteville solid waste service.
How to schedule: No appointment for up to 5 non-metal bulky items: set them out on your B week, the same day as yard waste. Metal items and appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, bikes) are collected on Wednesdays and must be scheduled by calling 910-433-1FAY (1329). Six or more items, or owner-generated construction debris including carpet, must be paid for and scheduled through FayFixIt, 910-433-1329, or 455 Grove St.
Limits: 5 bulky items per B-week collection at no charge; 6 or more is a paid scheduled collection. Appliances and furniture must be emptied with doors secured or removed.
Set-out: At the curb at least 4 feet from any other object, not in the road or under trees, power lines, or near mailboxes, cars, and fences. Nothing mixed with other waste.
Read the full Fayetteville / Bentonville city services guide ›
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 Fayetteville / Bentonville: 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 Fayetteville / Bentonville: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Northwest Arkansas covers two distinct cities with different waste programs. Fayetteville runs a city-operated Pay-As-You-Throw system with 1 free curbside bulky-waste pickup per year plus 4 free Transfer Station drop-offs. Bentonville uses Republic Services with appointment-based bulk pickup (fees may apply). Both cities have strong recycling programs and are served by Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Arkansas for donations. This guide covers disposal options for both cities.
The Fayetteville / Bentonville rule for water heaters: A drained water heater is a metal item for the Wednesday collection.
Program basics: 5 bulky items per B-week collection at no charge; 6 or more is a paid scheduled collection. Appliances and furniture must be emptied with doors secured or removed. At the curb at least 4 feet from any other object, not in the road or under trees, power lines, or near mailboxes, cars, and fences. Nothing mixed with other waste.
What the city will not take: Tires (up to 5 per household with rims removed are accepted at the Ann Street Landfill), electronics (computers, TVs, printers, stereos), and hazardous waste.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Fayetteville Solid Waste: Bulky Items. 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 Northwest Arkansas households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Northwest Arkansas area.
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 Fayetteville / Bentonville with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Fayetteville / Bentonville proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Fayetteville / Bentonville 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 Fayetteville / Bentonville: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Fayetteville / Bentonville pick up water heaters for free?
Yes, drained, on a Wednesday after calling.
How much does paid water heater removal cost in Fayetteville / Bentonville?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single water heater pickup in Fayetteville / Bentonville starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Northwest Arkansas households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Northwest Arkansas area.
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 Fayetteville / Bentonville page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Fayetteville / Bentonville guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.