Refrigerant

Do not place appliances or refrigerant gas in your recycling cart or bin. 

Air conditioning units, freezers, and dehumidifiers contain refrigerant. Before recycling an appliance with refrigerant or coolant, Freon must be properly removed from the item. Appliances without refrigerant can be managed through your city service department or scrap yard.

Appliances with Refrigerant

• Contact your city service department. Some communities provide Freon removal or contract with a private company for the service. Your community will provide instructions on how to place the refrigerant-containing appliance at the curb.
• Some communities require you to have the Freon removed from refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers before pick-up. Locally, companies such as Complete Appliance Service will visit your home to remove the Freon and tag the item for scrap. There is a fee for this service. 
• Many scrap yards can remove Freon from appliances before accepting it for recycling. There may be a small fee. Check with your local scrap yard. Scrap yards cannot accept an appliance without the proper tagging for Freon removal.
• Have it hauled away by the service that delivers your new appliance.

Learn more about the EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Partner Program and disposal options near you.

Refrigerant Gas

The US EPA offers guidance on recovering, recycling, and reclaiming refrigerant.  Refrigerant gas, welding tanks, and medical cylinders should be disposed of or recycled through the company where the tank was purchased or received. Contact the supplier or search for a list by zip code in the Yellow Pages. 

Under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, EPA prohibits individuals from knowingly venting refrigerants containing ozone-depleting refrigerants (including HCFC-22) as well as their substitutes (such as HFCs, including R-410A), while maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of AC and refrigeration equipment. See details from the EPA regarding refrigerant, appliance servicing, and finding a technician.

Tanks of refrigerant are not typically found in a household and are not accepted in the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program.

Waste from Businesses or Commercial Properties

There are different rules for the disposal of hazardous wastes from a business, including refrigerants. Businesses must contract with a licensed company for proper disposal or recycling. See the Business Locations list below for options.

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Looking to recycle, donate, or dispose of other items? Use the dark blue 'What Do I Do With?' search bar at the top of every page of this website. Allow location services or use the city drop-down to find opportunities in your local area.