Most Collin County cities take washers, dryers and water heaters in bulk pickup. Fridges, freezers and AC units usually need a tag proving the refrigerant was removed. Frisco uses a separate paid metal pickup instead, and an appliance removal service can unhook it and carry it out for you.
Why are appliances treated differently from other junk?
Two things set appliances apart: weight and refrigerant. A washer or water heater is heavy but simple, so many cities take it with regular bulk trash.
Fridges, freezers and air conditioners are another story. TCEQ's special waste page lists them, and any other item containing CFC refrigerant, as banned from disposal in any municipal landfill.
TCEQ says those items must be handled under a federal refrigerant rule, 40 CFR Part 82. That's why cities ask for a tag or paperwork before they'll pick up a cooling appliance.
What does each city's bulk pickup take?
Rules vary a lot from one city line to the next. These are from each city's own page.
- Allen: Allen's bulk item page accepts household appliances, washers, dryers and water heaters. Items must weigh under 150 pounds.
- Allen requires refrigerators, freezers and AC units to carry a refrigerant-removal tag before bulk collection.
- Plano: Plano's accepted-items list takes stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters and microwaves on bulky waste day.
- Plano sends anything with Freon, such as fridges, freezers, window AC units and water coolers, to a Special Paid Collection. An extra environmental fee applies to those items.
- Prosper: Prosper's trash and recycling page takes washing machines, dryers, water heaters and kitchen appliances as bulky waste. Anything that held refrigerant needs a certified technician's tag showing it was removed.
- Melissa: Melissa's bulk items page takes washers, dryers, water heaters and kitchen appliances. Fridges and freezers must be tagged to certify refrigerant removal, and items over 150 pounds are excluded.
- Anna: Anna's bulk set-out guidelines take washers, dryers and empty hot water heaters. The hauler won't collect fridges, freezers or AC units without verified proof of freon evacuation, submitted before collection day.
- Howe: Howe's utilities page takes stoves and water heaters in bulk, but not Freon items without an HVAC certificate.
What about Frisco?
Frisco handles appliances outside its regular bulk program. Frisco's bulk trash page excludes refrigerators, large metal, and hot water heaters and other enclosed metal containers.
Instead, Frisco runs a scheduled curbside pickup for metal items and appliances, for a one-time fee. Frisco's household chemical disposal page says the pickup runs on Thursdays and must be booked before noon the day before.
- Frisco's metal recycling pickup form adds a charge for each item containing refrigerant. The charge is waived if the item is certified refrigerant-free.
- Frisco assumes fridges, freezers and wine coolers hold refrigerant unless a technician removed it and attached documentation.
- Fridges and freezers must be empty and sealed shut with tape.
- A metal pickup is limited to what two crew members can remove from the curb in 10 minutes.
- Residents with a current water bill and matching ID can also drop off metal free at the Environmental Collection Center. Any item with Freon dropped there carries a charge on the next utility bill.
Where can I drop off an old appliance myself?
If you have a truck and a strong helper, a few drop-off sites take appliances. Bring a current utility bill and a matching driver's license, and cover the load, as Frisco and Allen both require.
- Allen residents: Allen's do-it-yourself disposal page lists the Parkway Transfer Station as accepting household appliances, including those with Freon. Allen's program accepts appliances up to 8 feet in any dimension.
- Plano residents: Plano's do-it-yourself disposal page says metal appliances are accepted for recycling at all NTMWD facilities except Custer Road.
- Melissa residents: Melissa's landfill page says the free resident drop-off takes air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, washers and dryers.
- Prosper residents: the Public Works Center at 601 W Fifth St takes bulky items Saturday mornings, 8 to noon, with a Prosper utility bill.
- Celina residents: Celina's Clean Sweep events accept appliances, but not refrigerators or freezers.
Does the store take the old one away?
Sometimes, so ask the retailer when you buy. Haul-away policies differ from store to store.
Settle it before delivery day. Find out whether it has to be unhooked and waiting, and whether a fridge needs paperwork.
How do I get a washer, dryer or water heater ready?
Prep matters whether a city crew, a store or a hauler is taking it. A few steps make the move safer and easier.
- Washer: shut off both water valves before disconnecting the hoses. Run a quick drain cycle so less water sloshes out.
- Dryer: unplug it and pull the vent hose. Gas dryers need the gas line shut off and capped by a plumber.
- Water heater: turn off the power or gas and the cold-water supply, then drain the tank. Anna, for one, takes only empty water heaters.
- Fridge or freezer: empty it, defrost it and tape the doors shut. Our refrigerator removal guide covers the refrigerant side in more detail.
- Measure doorways and stairs before you start moving anything heavy.
When is it easier to have it hauled?
Hire it out when the appliance is upstairs, in a tight laundry closet, or one of several going at once. It also helps when your city wants a tag you don't have.
Our appliance removal service takes fridges, freezers, washers, dryers, ranges, dishwashers, water heaters and microwaves. We unhook standard plug-in and water-line connections and carry it out. Anything hard-plumbed into gas needs a plumber to disconnect it first.
Appliances are mostly metal, so we pull them for recycling instead of dumping them. One appliance usually fits our Minimum Pickup, starting at $189, with a firm quote before we load. Local pages cover Plano, Allen and Frisco.