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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of a water heater in Greenville, verified October 2026.
Checked against City of Greenville Public Works
864-467-8300
Public Works Solid Waste, to schedule bulk waste or appliance collection
2
Residential Waste Centers for city residents: 800 E. Stone Ave and 514 Rutherford Rd
Free e-waste
TVs and computers at the City of Greenville Recycling Center, banned from the curb by state law
Every route for a water heater in Greenville, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Greenville guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Greenville, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Greenville bulk waste and large item collection: water heaters
Free, with a step firstA drained water heater is an appliance collected on request.
Who qualifies: Households inside the City of Greenville with city Solid Waste collection. Unincorporated Greenville County is served by Greater Greenville Sanitation, which schedules its own bulk pickups.
How to schedule: The city collects bulk waste and old appliances on request. Call Public Works Solid Waste at 864-467-8300 to schedule, and confirm what the crew will take and when to set it out. City residents can also use the Residential Waste Centers for bulky items, appliances, and electronics.
Limits: Resident-generated household items; confirm counts and any appliance fee when you call.
Set-out: At the curb on the date Public Works gives you, clear of carts and obstructions, not before.
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 Greenville: 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 Greenville: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Greenville, South Carolina has two distinct waste service providers depending on whether you’re in city limits or unincorporated Greenville County. City of Greenville residents are served by the City’s Solid Waste Division; unincorporated county residents are served by the Greater Greenville Sanitation District (GGSC). Both provide free bulk waste pickup by appointment. Greenville County also operates staffed Residential Waste and Recycling Facilities for e-waste, HHW, and self-haul drop-off. This guide covers every disposal option for residents across the Greenville metro.
The Greenville rule for water heaters: A drained water heater is an appliance collected on request.
Program basics: Resident-generated household items; confirm counts and any appliance fee when you call. At the curb on the date Public Works gives you, clear of carts and obstructions, not before.
What the city will not take: Construction debris, tires, hazardous waste, and electronics at the curb (South Carolina bans TVs and computers from landfills; the Recycling Center takes them).
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Greenville Public Works: Bulk Waste and Large Items, SC Department of Environmental Services: Greenville County recycling locations (City of Greenville Recycling Center). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Greenville. Greenville County staffed Residential Waste and Recycling Facilities also accept HHW (paint, oil, batteries, chemicals) at most locations. The Twin Chimneys Landfill has additional HHW recycling capabilities. Contact Greenville County at (864) 243-9672 for current accepted items and facility hours.
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 Greenville households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need more capacity than free options provide, or want full-service crew-based hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Greenville 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 Greenville with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Greenville proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Greenville 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 Greenville: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Greenville pick up water heaters for free?
Yes, drained, after scheduling.
How much does paid water heater removal cost in Greenville?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single water heater pickup in Greenville starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Greenville households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need more capacity than free options provide, or want full-service crew-based hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Greenville 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 Greenville page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Greenville guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.