Disposal & recycling

How to get rid of an old freezer, the right way.

An old freezer is not regular trash: it holds refrigerant that must legally be recovered by a certified technician, foam that is best destroyed in a proper facility, and — on old latching chest models — a lid that has killed children in discarded units. Here are the four legitimate disposal routes, what each costs (one often pays you), and the two safety rules that apply to all of them.

The four routes

• 1. Your electric utility's appliance recycling program — often the best deal. Many utilities pick up old working freezers for free and pay a rebate, and the best programs are partners in EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) program, which recovers the refrigerant AND the foam-blowing agents beyond what federal law requires. Search your utility's site for "appliance recycling".
• 2. Retailer haul-away with your new freezer. Most major appliance retailers offer old-unit haul-away when they deliver a replacement, for a small fee or free during promotions. If you are buying a new freezer, this is the zero-effort route — add it at checkout on the retailer's site.
• 3. Municipal bulky-item / appliance collection. Most cities and counties collect appliances by appointment or at drop-off sites, handling refrigerant recovery on their side. Search "[your city] appliance disposal"; expect a modest fee.
• 4. Scrap metal dealers. A freezer is mostly steel. Scrap yards accept them — but only after certified refrigerant recovery, which reputable yards arrange or require proof of. Ask before you haul.

The two non-negotiable rules

• Refrigerant recovery is federal law. Under Clean Air Act Section 608 it is illegal to vent refrigerant; a certified technician must recover it before scrapping or landfill. Every legitimate route above handles this — the guy on a classifieds site offering free removal may not. EPA's appliance disposal page explains what proper disposal involves.
• Remove the door or lid the day the freezer leaves service. CPSC records document child entrapment deaths in discarded latching chest freezers — see the entrapment entries on our freezer recalls page. Do not let a latching unit sit intact in a garage, yard, or curb.

Before it goes: defrost and clean

Unplug the unit at least 24 hours ahead, let it defrost fully (our defrosting guide covers the fast, safe way), drain the water, and wipe it dry — pickup crews can refuse a dripping or moldy unit. Tape the cord to the cabinet and, for transport, keep the unit upright so compressor oil stays out of the cooling lines.

Replacing it?

A modern freezer uses a fraction of the energy of a unit from the 1990s. Size the replacement with the capacity estimator, check real running costs with the running-cost tool, and see the ENERGY STAR recycling page for why recycling the old one properly matters.