How to Get Rid of a Refrigerator or Other Appliance in Tucson

Washers, dryers and stoves are mostly just heavy. Refrigerators, freezers and window air conditioners are different, because they contain refrigerant that can't be released into the air. Here is what the rules require and every Tucson-area option, checked against official sources on September 28, 2026.

The refrigerant rule, in plain English

Under the EPA's safe-disposal rules, household refrigerators, freezers and window AC units count as "small appliances," and intentionally venting their refrigerant is prohibited. The responsibility sits with the last stop in the disposal chain, such as the scrap recycler or landfill: it has to make sure the refrigerant was recovered before the appliance is scrapped or buried. It can rely on a signed statement from whoever dropped the appliance off, saying who recovered the refrigerant and when.

In practice, that's why landfills and scrap yards charge extra for fridges and freezers, restrict them, or turn them away.

If you live in the City of Tucson

Brush & Bulky takes appliances, but refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed first. It comes to each area twice a year, with piles at the curb in front of the home. A special pickup on your own schedule costs $95 for up to 10 cubic yards under the City's July 2026 rate table, with extra charges for more volume or time.

Los Reales (5300 E. Los Reales Road) recycles scrap metal and metal appliances like stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters and evaporative coolers at no charge. Appliances that contain refrigerant cost $20 each to dispose of under the City's current rates; the City's recycling page lists a $5 refrigerant evacuation fee for appliances brought to the scrap-metal area, so call 520-791-4183 to confirm which applies.

Pima County transfer stations and other landfills

• Catalina Transfer Station takes washers, dryers, water heaters and refrigerators as scrap metal at the County's residential fees, but refrigerators must have no Freon.
• Sahuarita Transfer Station takes refrigerators and other Freon items in a designated area, limited to one Freon item per household per year.
• Speedway Recycling & Landfill charges $20 per appliance on top of its load rates.
• Marana Regional Landfill doesn't accept appliances that could release refrigerant.

Our guide to Tucson landfills and transfer stations has hours, addresses and load fees for each.

Town programs

• Sahuarita's bulk pickup takes some appliances but not refrigerators or freezers.
• Marana's Community Trailer can't be used for appliances with Freon.
• Oro Valley has no town bulky pickup.

Working appliances: donate them

Habitat for Humanity Tucson's HabiStore takes stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers and air conditioners in good, resellable condition, and offers free pickup. St. Vincent de Paul Tucson also takes large and small appliances. Call first and describe the condition honestly; a broken appliance won't be accepted.

What about a TEP rebate?

Tucson Electric Power used to run an appliance recycling program, but it was suspended in 2015 and isn't among TEP's current rebates.

When to hand it off

A refrigerator is heavy, awkward, and usually wedged into a space that was never designed for getting it back out. If you'd rather not remove doors, rent a truck, or sort out which site takes Freon this month, our appliance removal service takes it from where it sits. Working units get routed toward donation when possible. Send the quote form to take twenty dollars off, or call (520) 808-2268.

Sources

Checked September 28, 2026.

• EPA: stationary refrigeration safe disposal requirements
• EPA: prohibition on venting refrigerants
• City of Tucson: Brush & Bulky
• City of Tucson: FY2027 residential rate table
• City of Tucson: FY2027 disposal rate table
• City of Tucson: recycling at Los Reales
• WM: Pima County transfer stations fact sheet
• WM: Marana Regional Landfill fact sheet
• Speedway Recycling & Landfill (operator page)
• Town of Sahuarita bulk collection rules
• Town of Marana: Community Trailer Program
• Habitat for Humanity Tucson: HabiStore donations
• St. Vincent de Paul Tucson: donate goods
• TEP energy efficiency implementation plan (appliance recycling status)