Hauler loading curbside junk into pickup truck in a neighborhood

Appliance Recycling in San Diego, California

Starting at $79. Additional items from $19.

Getting rid of an old refrigerator, washer, dryer, or stove comes down to five options: city bulk pickup (free but restricted), retailer haul-away (free–$50 with a new purchase), self-haul to a recycling center ($30–80), curbside pickup through Dropcurb ($104, same day), or traditional junk removal ($200–600+). Appliance disposal is more regulated than furniture because of refrigerants, oils, and heavy metals.

Same-day pickup available — book by 12pm for today's window

948+

Cities Covered

39

States Served

Same-Day

Pickup Available

$50

No-Show Guarantee

How appliance removal works in San Diego

1

Curb it

Place your appliance at the curb, driveway, or alley. No wrapping, no disassembly.

2

Book it

Select your item, see the exact price ($104), and pick your day. 60 seconds.

3

Gone

A local insured hauler picks it up same-day in San Diego. You get a text when it's done.

No strangers in your home. No scheduling a 4-hour window. No being home.

How much does appliance removal cost in San Diego?

Appliance removal costs $104 through Dropcurb — that's the $79 pickup fee plus a $25 appliance recycling fee. Each additional appliance is +$54 ($29 add-on + $25 recycling). A washer/dryer set costs $158 total. Heavy appliances like refrigerators and stoves start at $134 ($109 heavy pickup + $25 recycling). Traditional companies charge $200–$600+ for appliance removal because of the weight and disposal requirements.

$104

Flat rate · No hidden fees · Price guaranteed

Pickup fee$79
First applianceIncluded
Appliance recycling fee+$25
Each additional appliance+$29 + $25
Book appliance pickup — $104

✓ Price guaranteed before you book. No surprises, no hidden fees.

Traditional junk removal (1-800-GOT-JUNK, LoadUp): $150–$600+

5 ways to get rid of an appliance in San Diego

Compared by cost, speed, and effort — pick the right option for your situation.

MethodCostSpeedEffortBest for
City bulk pickupFree2–9 weeksSchedule ahead. Many cities accept appliances but require Freon to be professionally removed first. Strict weight limits apply.You can wait weeks and your city accepts appliances
Retailer haul-away (Home Depot, Lowe’s)Free–$50Same day as deliveryOnly available when buying a new appliance. Old one must be disconnected and accessible. Not all retailers offer this in all areas.You're buying a replacement and the retailer offers haul-away
Self-haul to recycling center$30–80Same dayNeed a truck. Appliances are extremely heavy (150–300+ lbs). Most people need help loading. Must find a certified recycling facility.You have a truck, a helper, and a nearby recycling center
Traditional junk removal (1-800-GOT-JUNK, etc.)$200–600+2–3 daysMust be home for in-person estimate. Crew enters your home and can disconnect for you. Higher price reflects full-service approach.Appliance is in a tight space and you need full-service removal
Dropcurb$104Same dayDisconnect and place at curb or garage apron. Book online in 60 seconds. $25 recycling fee included. No Freon removal needed — our recyclers handle it.You want it gone today without the heavy lifting

How to prepare your appliance for pickup

  • Place appliance at the curb or garage apron. Disconnect from power and water lines first. Tape doors shut on washers and dryers.
  • ✓ Place at curb, driveway, or alley
  • ✓ No need to be home

When do you need appliance removal in San Diego?

  • New appliance arriving and old one needs to go
  • Remodeling kitchen or laundry room
  • Landlord replacing tenant appliances
  • Old appliance broke down and isn't worth repairing

Does San Diego pick up appliances?

Junk removal in San Diego starts at $79 with Dropcurb — same-day curbside pickup with no on-site estimates. San Diego has no centralized bulk pickup program; residents must search the WasteFreeSD directory to find providers by ZIP code, where fees, wait times, and quality vary wildly across 1.39 million residents.

City program details: San Diego has no single city-run bulk pickup program. Residents use the WasteFreeSD directory to find haulers by ZIP code — fees and wait times vary by provider. The city runs periodic Community Cleanup events at rotating neighborhood locations (schedule varies). Miramar Landfill (city-operated) accepts self-haul loads — per-ton rate increased from ~$31/ton (FY2022) to current FY2026 rates; small car loads run $57-$103 after the $13 recycling fee and $8 RCBT surcharge. Cash no longer accepted at Miramar — cards and checks only.

San Diego lacks a unified city bulk pickup — the WasteFreeSD directory lists providers by ZIP code with no standard pricing or scheduling. The city runs periodic Community Cleanup events at 5+ rotating locations, but availability is limited and schedule-dependent. Miramar Landfill (city-operated) charges ~$42/ton for self-haul (FY2026, increased from ~$31/ton), but small car loads run $70-$103 after the $13 recycling fee and $8 RCBT surcharge (cash no longer accepted). A new city trash fee of $32.82-$43.60/month begins FY2026 for single-family residents ($523.20/year for 95-gallon bin bundle), replacing previously free service. Low-income residents can apply for subsidies of up to $261.60/year. Fred's Junk Removal starts at $59 for curbside small loads (up to 2 cubic yards). Severin Hauling charges $69 for small items, $100 for standard, and $495 for a full trailer. Fetch Junk Removal starts at $89. Jake's Junk Removal operates larger trucks (nearly 2x competitors) with competitive pricing. Junk King San Diego offers text-a-photo estimates with volume-based pricing. Demo Diego offers same-day junk removal from $150-$600 and publishes a 2026 pricing guide showing full-load costs of $450-$800. Average San Diego junk removal costs $249-$261 according to Homeyou (based on 14,191 local projects). 1-800-GOT-JUNK charges $150-$600+ with mandatory in-person estimates.

Dropcurb picks up appliances same-day in San Diego for $104 flat — no wait, no annual limits, no restrictions.

No city bulk pickup. Just a directory and good luck.

San Diego is the largest U.S. city without a centralized bulk pickup program. The WasteFreeSD directory lists providers by ZIP code, but pricing, wait times, and service quality vary wildly. Miramar Landfill accepts self-haul loads but charges $70-$103 for a car load after surcharges (FY2026 rate increased to ~$42/ton) — and no longer takes cash.

No program

San Diego has no city bulk pickup

$70-$103

Miramar Landfill car load cost (FY2026)

1.39M

Residents navigating the directory

What happens to your appliance after pickup

Appliances are recycled at licensed facilities that specialize in handling refrigerants, compressor oils, and heavy metals. Refrigerators and freezers undergo certified Freon recovery before processing — the $25 recycling fee covers this. Steel, copper, aluminum, and other metals are separated and sent to scrap processors. Compressors, motors, and wiring are individually processed. Appliances in working condition may be refurbished and resold or donated to organizations like Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Why San Diego residents choose Dropcurb for appliance removal

Dropcurb cuts through San Diego's confusing WasteFreeSD directory with flat $79 same-day pricing. No researching providers by ZIP code, no driving to Miramar Landfill, no waiting for on-site estimates. Book online in 60 seconds — your hauler texts you an ETA.

Serving Balboa Park, La Jolla, Gaslamp Quarter, Mission Valley, Coronado, Sorrento Valley, and 4 more neighborhoods in San Diego.

Appliance removal questions in San Diego

Appliance Recycling nearby

Same-day appliance pickup near San Diego.

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