How to get rid of a refrigerator in Houston, TX

Houston only takes refrigerators and freezers in heavy trash if they have a certified technician's tag showing the refrigerant has been removed. Without the tag, the fridge, and possibly your whole pile, can be refused.

Last checked against the official City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department website. See sources.

Cost
No fee listed for scheduled heavy trash
How
Heavy trash day or a drop-off center
Key rule
Needs a certified technician's tag showing refrigerant was removed

Option 1: City pickup (Heavy trash collection)

Who can use it

  • For occupied homes that get City of Houston curbside service.
  • Not available to buildings with more than 8 units.

How to book

  1. No booking needed. Each home has an assigned heavy trash day.
  2. Look up your day with the City's online service lookup tool or the HTX Collects app.

Refrigerator rules

  • Refrigerators and freezers are accepted only with a certified technician's tag showing the refrigerant has been removed.
  • Appliances that still contain gas, chemicals or coolant are not accepted.
  • If allowed and banned items are mixed, the entire pile may be refused, so keep an untagged fridge out of your pile.

Setting it out

  • Set items out between 6:00 p.m. the Friday before and 7:00 a.m. on your collection day.
  • Place items just behind the curb in front of your home, not in the street or on the sidewalk.
  • Do not stack items under wires, signs or mailboxes, or on meters, hydrants or other utilities.
  • Limit: 8 cubic yards per set-out (about the size of a minivan).
  • If allowed and banned items are mixed, the whole pile may be refused.

Fees and limits

  • The City's heavy trash page does not list a fee for scheduled heavy trash collection.

Option 2: Drop it off yourself

  • Residential Drop-Off Centers accept refrigerators with a tag showing Freon removal. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bring a Texas ID and a matching City utility bill or lease.
  • Residential Drop-Off Centers are open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Sunday and Monday). Residents may use them up to four times per month.
  • Locations: 9003 N Main 77022 (North), 14400 Sommermeyer 77041 (Northwest), 5565 Kirkpatrick 77028 (Northeast), 2240 Central Street 77017 (Southeast), 5100 Sunbeam 77033 (South), 10785 SW Freeway 77074 (Southwest).
  • To drop off bulk waste, bring a current Texas ID and a current City of Houston utility bill or lease with the same address.
  • Allowed vehicles: pickup trucks and small trailers up to 10 feet. Not allowed: U-Hauls, box trucks, sprinter vans, dump trailers. You unload your own items.

Option 3: Donate or give it away

  • Houston Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts appliances that are 10 years old or newer, working and not gas-powered. Its guidelines list a minimum quantity of 3 appliances.
  • The City's Reuse Warehouse (9003 N. Main Street, Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 281-814-3324) accepts energy-efficient appliances in reusable condition. Staff inspect every item, and there is no pickup service.

Donation rules are set by each charity and can change. Call before you load up.

What we could not confirm

  • The City does not say how to get the refrigerant removal tag. A licensed appliance or HVAC technician is the usual route, but we have not listed any service or price.

Common questions

Will Houston pick up my old fridge?
Only if it has a certified technician's tag showing the refrigerant was removed.
What happens if I put out a fridge without a tag?
It will not be collected, and the City says a pile with mixed allowed and banned items may be refused entirely.
Can I take a fridge to a drop-off center?
Yes, with a tag showing Freon removal, at any Residential Drop-Off Center.

Sources

Last checked Oct 21, 2026. We read each page below on that date.

Related guides