Disposal glossary.

Appliance haul-away

A service offered by most major appliance retailers (Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy, Costco) that picks up your old appliance for free when delivering a new one. The retailer handles refrigerant drainage, door removal, and disposal. Confirm at purchase, not all retailers automatically include haul-away, and some online-only retailers charge a fee. See our refrigerator disposal guide for details.

Asbestos

A naturally occurring fibrous mineral used historically in insulation, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and pipe wrap. Asbestos disposal is heavily regulated under federal and state law because airborne asbestos fibers cause serious lung disease. Asbestos cannot be disposed of through regular junk removal or bulk pickup, it requires licensed asbestos abatement contractors. Most home junk removal services explicitly refuse asbestos materials.

Bulk pickup (also bulky waste, bulk trash, large item pickup)

A municipal solid waste service that collects large items from residential curbsides, furniture, mattresses, appliances, and other items too big for regular trash bins. Schedules vary widely: weekly (Buffalo, Knoxville, Houston), monthly (Atlanta, Detroit), quarterly (Birmingham, Pittsburgh), or twice-yearly (Austin, San Antonio). Some cities require appointments; others run on fixed neighborhood routes. See city guides for your local rules.

Bye Bye Mattress

A mattress recycling program operated by the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) in states with mandatory mattress recycling laws, Connecticut, Rhode Island, California, and Oregon. Funded by a small fee on new mattress sales, Bye Bye Mattress provides free drop-off locations where residents in those states can dispose of mattresses and box springs. Find participating sites at byebyemattress.com.

Call2Recycle

A nonprofit battery recycling program that operates over 30,000 drop-off sites across the United States and Canada. Call2Recycle accepts rechargeable batteries (NiCad, NiMH, lithium-ion, button cells) and cell phones for free at participating retailers including Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy, and Staples. The most universal channel for free battery recycling. See call2recycle.org for the nearest site.

CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials)

Specialized drop-off facilities operated by some U.S. cities for items that don’t fit standard curbside recycling. CHaRMs typically accept electronics, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, paint, mattresses, tires, and other hard-to-recycle materials. The Atlanta CHaRM, operated by Live Thrive Atlanta, is a notable example.

Clean Air Act Section 608

A federal regulation under the Clean Air Act that requires EPA-certified technicians to recover refrigerants from refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners before disposal. Releasing refrigerant into the atmosphere is illegal because refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases, HCFC-22 (older Freon) has 1,810 times the global warming potential of CO2. Penalties for unauthorized refrigerant release can reach $25,000+ per violation. See our refrigerator disposal guide.

Commercial dumping

Illegal dumping by unlicensed haulers or contractors who collect disposal fees from clients but deposit waste in unauthorized locations to avoid paying landfill tipping fees. Distinct from residential illegal dumping, commercial dumping involves larger volumes and is typically prosecuted more aggressively. See our illegal dumping guide for more.

Construction debris (C&D waste)

Waste from construction, demolition, and renovation projects: drywall, lumber, flooring, concrete, fixtures. Most cities exclude construction debris from regular bulk pickup. Disposal options include licensed C&D landfills, dumpster rental for renovation projects, or commercial junk removal services that handle C&D specifically.

CRT (cathode ray tube) TV

Older “tube” television sets manufactured before flat-screen LCD/LED technology became standard around 2007. CRT TVs contain 4–8 pounds of leaded glass per tube plus phosphors and other heavy metals. Recycling CRTs is more expensive than recycling modern flat-screen TVs, Best Buy charges $30 for CRT recycling, and many cities charge $10–$30 at drop-off facilities. State e-waste programs in 25+ states accept CRT TVs free.

Donation pickup

A service offered by many charitable organizations (Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Goodwill, Furniture Banks) that collects usable furniture and household items for free from residences. Schedule online or by phone, typically 1–2 weeks out. Items must be in usable condition, no significant damage, stains, or pest history. Donations to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible at fair market value.

Dumpster rental (roll-off)

Renting a portable dumpster (typically 10, 20, 30, or 40 cubic yards) that’s delivered to your property, filled with waste over a period of days, and then hauled away. Pricing typically $300–$700 per week depending on size and location. Useful for renovation projects, large cleanouts, or hot tub disposal. Cheaper than paid junk removal for high-volume situations but requires you to do the loading.

E-waste (electronic waste)

Discarded electronic devices including TVs, computers, monitors, printers, phones, and other electronics. E-waste contains heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium) that contaminate landfills, which is why 25+ U.S. states have passed e-waste laws banning electronics from regular trash. Free e-waste recycling is available at Best Buy (1,000+ U.S. locations), state-mandated drop-offs, and manufacturer programs. See our electronics disposal guide.

EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)

A policy framework that requires manufacturers to fund the end-of-life recycling of their products through small fees on new product sales. EPR laws have been enacted in many U.S. states for specific product categories: mattresses (CT, RI, CA, OR), electronics (25+ states), paint (11 states under PaintCare), tires (nearly every state), and pharmaceuticals (a growing number). EPR programs typically result in free or low-cost recycling for consumers because the cost is built into the original purchase.

Fly-tipping

A British term for illegal dumping, occasionally used in academic literature and policy documents in the United States. Refers to the unauthorized disposal of waste in any location not licensed to receive it. See our illegal dumping guide.

Freon

A trademark name for several refrigerant chemicals manufactured by Chemours, often used as a generic term for HCFC-22 and related refrigerants used in older refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners. Freon is a potent greenhouse gas and must be recovered by an EPA-certified technician before appliance disposal under Clean Air Act Section 608.

Furniture Bank

A type of nonprofit that collects donated furniture and supplies it free to families transitioning out of homelessness, domestic violence, or other crisis situations. The Furniture Bank Network operates locator services at furniturebanks.org. Furniture Banks typically pick up usable furniture for free, with stricter condition standards than Salvation Army or Goodwill (because items go to vulnerable households).

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

A network of nonprofit home improvement and furniture stores operated by Habitat for Humanity affiliates. ReStores accept donations of furniture, appliances, building materials, and home goods, and resell them to fund Habitat’s home-building mission. Most ReStores offer free pickup for larger donations. Often more flexible than Salvation Army or Goodwill for handling large items (sectionals, dining sets, working appliances).

HHW (Household Hazardous Waste)

Materials from residential households that are flammable, corrosive, toxic, or reactive, including paint, motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides, household cleaners, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, propane tanks, pool chemicals, and old medications. HHW is banned from regular trash in nearly every U.S. city. Most cities operate free HHW disposal facilities or periodic collection events for residents. See our hazardous waste disposal guide.

Landfill

A licensed waste disposal site where solid waste is buried in engineered cells designed to contain leachate and methane emissions. Modern U.S. landfills (called Subtitle D landfills under RCRA) include liners, leachate collection systems, and cap covers. Many materials are banned from landfills under state law, mattresses (in 4 states), electronics (in 25+ states), tires (in nearly every state), and most hazardous waste.

Latex paint (water-based)

Water-based paint that can usually be dried out and disposed of in regular household trash, this is legal in most U.S. states. Mix the paint with kitty litter, sand, or sawdust until solid, leave the can lid off so trash haulers can verify it’s dry, then dispose with regular trash. Distinct from oil-based paint, which is hazardous waste and requires HHW disposal.

Lead-acid battery

The type of battery used in cars, trucks, motorcycles, and some industrial applications. Lead-acid batteries are highly recyclable, over 99% of their materials are recovered. AutoZone, O’Reilly, Advance Auto Parts, and most auto shops accept old lead-acid batteries free, often with a $5–$15 core charge refund.

Lithium battery (lithium-ion, Li-ion)

A type of rechargeable battery used in laptops, cell phones, power tools, electric vehicles, and many household electronics. Lithium batteries can short-circuit and ignite when damaged or compacted, which is why they cause thousands of fires at waste facilities each year (the U.S. EPA estimates 5,000+ waste facility fires from 2018–2024). Never put lithium batteries in regular trash or recycling. Best Buy, Home Depot, and Call2Recycle accept lithium batteries free.

Mattress recycling

The process of breaking down mattresses into recoverable materials, steel springs (for steel mills), foam (for carpet padding), fabric (for shoddy fiber), and wood (for mulch). Mandatory in 4 states (CT, RI, CA, OR) under EPR laws, and provided free at participating Bye Bye Mattress drop-off sites in those states. See our mattress disposal guide.

PaintCare

A nonprofit paint stewardship program funded by paint manufacturers that operates free paint drop-off sites in 11 states (CA, CO, CT, DC, ME, MN, NY, OR, RI, VT, WA) at participating Sherwin-Williams, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and independent paint stores. Accepts both latex and oil-based paint, stains, and sealers. Find participating sites at paintcare.org.

Prepaid sticker (also bulk pickup sticker)

A method some cities (Milwaukee notably) use to enable free bulk pickup, residents purchase stickers from the city and affix them to bulk items at the curb. The sticker confirms the item is authorized for pickup and prepays the disposal cost. Most cities don’t use stickers, but where they do, putting items at the curb without a sticker means the items won’t be collected.

RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act)

The primary federal law governing hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste in the United States, enacted in 1976. RCRA establishes the framework for state solid waste programs, hazardous waste tracking, and waste disposal facility regulation. Most state-level disposal laws operate under authority delegated by RCRA. Penalties for hazardous waste violations under RCRA can reach $50,000 per day per violation.

Recology

The waste and recycling company contracted to provide solid waste services in San Francisco and several other West Coast cities. Recology operates San Francisco’s mandatory three-cart sorting system, free Bulky Item Recycling program (limited to Recology customers), and HHW Facility at 501 Tunnel Avenue.

Refrigerant

The chemical fluid that circulates in refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heat pumps to transfer heat. Common refrigerants include HCFC-22 (older Freon), R-134a (modern automotive AC), and R-410A (modern home AC). Refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases, thousands of times more impactful per pound than CO2, and federal Clean Air Act Section 608 requires EPA-certified technicians to recover them before appliance disposal.

Refrigerator Safety Act of 1956

A U.S. federal law requiring that refrigerator doors be removed or secured open before disposal, to prevent child entrapment. The law was passed in response to a series of child deaths in discarded refrigerators. Many U.S. cities require door removal as part of bulk pickup compliance for refrigerators.

ReStore

Common shorthand for Habitat for Humanity ReStore. See Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Round-up (round-up at checkout)

A donation mechanism in which a customer’s purchase total is rounded up to the nearest dollar (or higher) at checkout, with the difference donated to a designated cause. Many retailers and service providers use round-up programs to fund nonprofit partners or social impact initiatives. Freemoval’s primary funding source is round-up contributions from LoadUp customers at checkout. Round-ups are typically optional and opt-in.

S.A.F.E. Center (Solvents/Automotive/Flammables/Electronics)

Permanent free drop-off facilities operated by LA Sanitation in Los Angeles for hazardous household waste, solvents, automotive products, flammables, and electronics. Distinct from periodic HHW collection events because S.A.F.E. Centers operate year-round.

Scrap metal recycler

A licensed business that buys metal from individuals and businesses for recycling. Scrap yards typically pay $0.05–$0.15 per pound for steel, $1–$3 per pound for copper, and varying rates for aluminum, brass, and stainless steel. Useful for disposing of cast iron weight plates, old appliance frames (after refrigerant drainage), broken exercise equipment, and other metal-heavy items, you may earn modest cash rather than paying for disposal.

Solid Waste Facility

A general term for any licensed facility that accepts solid waste, including landfills, transfer stations, recycling facilities, composting facilities, and HHW collection facilities. Some cities operate combined Solid Waste Facilities where residents can self-haul bulk items, hazardous waste, and recyclables for free or low-cost disposal (Knoxville is a notable example).

Tipping fee

The fee charged at landfills, transfer stations, and waste facilities for accepting waste, typically calculated per ton, per cubic yard, or per item. Residential tipping fees at municipal landfills are often $10–$50 per visit for small loads; commercial tipping fees can range $30–$100+ per ton. The tipping fee structure is one reason illegal commercial dumping happens: unlicensed haulers collect disposal fees from clients but never pay tipping fees, pocketing the difference.

Tire disposal fee

A small fee ($1–$5 per tire) included in every new tire purchase in the United States that funds end-of-life tire recycling. Because the fee is already paid when you buy new tires, tire shops are required by state law to accept old tires free when you buy new ones. Tire shops typically charge $3–$8 per tire for tire-only disposal (without a new tire purchase).

Transfer station

A facility where waste is consolidated from collection trucks into larger trucks for transport to landfills or processing facilities. Many transfer stations also accept self-hauled waste from residents and businesses for a tipping fee, often $10–$50 per residential load. Transfer stations are typically more accessible than landfills (closer to populated areas) and offer simpler self-haul options.

Waste-to-energy (WTE)

A waste disposal method in which solid waste is incinerated to generate electricity or heat. WTE facilities reduce waste volume by approximately 90% and produce energy as a byproduct, but generate ash that requires disposal and emit air pollutants that require advanced filtration. WTE accounts for a small share of U.S. waste disposal compared to landfilling.